Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence and conflicting findings in previous evaluations.

The Veteran's renal cancer was granted service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The rating for the resection of sigmoid colon remains at 20 percent, and the ratings for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities remain at 10 percent.

Effective dates of June 7, 2017 are granted for service connection of left and right lower extremity sciatic neuropathy and left and right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's increased ratings for coronary artery disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity have been denied. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, low back disability, neck disability, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, and dermatitis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective the date after his last day of work.

The Board dismissed all appeals seeking service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, allergic rhinitis, anemia with vitamin D deficiency, and other medical issues. The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left forearm limitation of flexion, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, and left cubital tunnel syndrome with ulnar neuropathy have been granted. The effective date is August 27, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and additional development of his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since October 23, 2018. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as erectile dysfunction, all secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The decision also remanded the issue of a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety disorder, NOS.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding no evidence to support a direct relationship with service or presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records and address issues inextricably intertwined with the increased rating issues.

The Board denied entitlement to effective dates prior to November 28, 2012 for service connection of peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities due to the finality of the February 2011 rating decision and the fact that the claim was reopened on new evidence received after the September 27, 2012 statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 5, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent from September 5, 2019 for right upper extremity polyneuropathy with right ulnar neuropathy is remanded due to the need for clarification regarding whether the right wrist contracture is a manifestation of the service-connected condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, to include as due to in-service herbicide agent exposure, is remanded due to uncertainty about his diagnosis of ischemic heart disease and the need for an addendum opinion from a clinician who possesses experience in diagnosing cardiac disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, and right lower extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, are remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from a clinician who possesses experience in diagnosing peripheral neuropathies.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, and right lower extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, are remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from a clinician who possesses experience in diagnosing peripheral neuropathies.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, and right lower extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, are remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from a clinician who possesses experience in diagnosing peripheral neuropathies.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including cervical spine disability, right and left hip disabilities, left wrist and elbow disabilities, psychiatric disability, sleep disability, and gastrointestinal disability. The effective dates for service connection are also being remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and right and left foot disorders, back disorder, heart disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to establish a current disability for VA purposes for bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds the examination adequate as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting employment status information and new service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered with these factors in mind.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and peripheral neuropathy of all extremities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.,Both issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship between the Veteran’s current conditions and his military service.