Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of July 14, 2010. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence showing the condition was incurred in or related to active service.,The Veteran's death certificate listed cardiopulmonary respiratory arrest as the immediate cause of death.

The Board has found that the prior remand directives were not substantially complied with and has ordered another remand to ensure compliance. The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for worsening of right leg peripheral vascular disease due to a VA surgical procedure in January 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete documentation and inadequate examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy have been granted. The case is being remanded to assign initial ratings and determine eligibility for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left arm disability, including essential tremor and neuropathy. The VA examiner was requested to provide a complete etiology for these conditions, determine if they are related to service or service-connected disabilities, and address any aggravation by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further medical development.,New and material evidence has been received, allowing the reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with his claim for diabetes mellitus type II, which is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus, type II has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's claim for chloracne remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claim for TDIU due to insufficient evidence showing that the Veteran is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities. The case must be referred to the Director of Compensation Services for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted. The Veteran does not require regulation of activities to manage his diabetes. As for TDIU, the evidence shows that the Veteran has met the schedular criteria but is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for residuals from gallbladder removal, a heart disorder, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as the evidence did not support a causal relationship to active service.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction was denied. The Veteran is granted a TDIU from December 21, 2020 onward due to the combined effects of service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot disability, including calcaneal spurring, peripheral neuropathy, and right ankle sprain with swelling, finding that the condition became manifest during active duty.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right foot peripheral neuropathy as there is no current diagnosis of such conditions, and the Veteran did not have a recent diagnosis prior to filing his claim.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is being remanded due to a medical record inconsistency.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as left ear hearing loss, are denied. The Board found no current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has found that the remand instructions for obtaining VA examinations concerning the Veteran's hearing loss and legs have not been completed as directed. As such, another remand is necessary.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to missing documents from the original claims file. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities remains under review.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral lower extremity axonal polyneuropathy has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the issues from appellate consideration.