Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for urinary disability, bilateral leg neurological disabilities including peripheral neuropathy, bilateral knee disorders, and bilateral hip disorders due to potential legal changes in how aggravation is evaluated.

The Board denied service connection for a dermatological disability and a separate rating for upper extremity neuropathy, as well as the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 14, 2008. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities that were incurred in or are otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right ring finger condition, low back condition, and right lower extremity neuropathy due to lack of medical evidence supporting these claims.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus prior to May 21, 2015 and a rating in excess of 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's diabetes has required oral hypoglycemic agent, insulin, and restricted diet throughout the pendency of this case.

The Veteran's CIDP is presumed due to herbicide exposure in service. However, the Board finds conflicting medical opinions and remands for a VA examination to clarify whether CIDP is related to his presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, along with his request for a 100 percent rating for PTSD prior to March 28, 2011, have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are all granted with the exception of a separate 10% rating for hypertension which is denied as it has already been assigned.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his bilateral lower extremity condition, bilateral eye disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and its associated neuropathies, and initial ratings higher than 60 percent for peripheral artery disease of both lower extremities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and TDIU. The cases are being remanded to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to evaluate his current levels of impairment from these conditions.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a respiratory disability due to asbestos exposure is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected Hashimoto's thyroiditis is granted a 60 percent rating, effective September 7, 2011. She also receives TDIU benefits.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, as well as a higher rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities and denied increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of right lower extremity prior to August 21, 2017 and from that date, as well as for peripheral neuropathy of left lower extremity prior to August 21, 2017 and from that date. The Board found no current disability due to disease or residual of injury as to these claims.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as it has been granted and rendered moot. The remaining issues of service connection for hypertension, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a skin disability and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, both related to herbicide exposure. The VA examinations are inadequate for decision making purposes as they only considered presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for a left shoulder disorder, diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity disorder (neuropathy), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The remand requests additional opinions on whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that there is no evidence linking his conditions to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. The atrial fibrillation claim remains pending and will be remanded for further review.