Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, and other conditions, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) beginning January 5, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and his service-connected ischemic heart disease, as well as the potential connection to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for coronary artery disease (CAD) are denied as the evidence does not show more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure, a workload greater than 3 METs but not greater than 5 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent.,The Veteran's increased rating for CAD beginning March 30, 2011 is denied as the evidence does not show chronic congestive heart failure, a workload of less than 3 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent.,The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II are denied as the evidence does not show regulation of activities, required daily insulin use, or hospitalizations during the period at issue.,The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy in the right lower extremity are denied as the evidence does not show moderate, incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy in the left lower extremity are denied as the evidence does not show moderate, incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's recurrent prostatitis and benign prostatic hypertrophy are granted service connection due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. Service connection for left lower peripheral neuropathy and right lower peripheral neuropathy is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the nature and severity of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, specifically which nerves were affected by diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has granted the appellant's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, upper extremity neuropathy, and lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeals are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical opinions regarding his ability to work, and further development of federal personnel records and SSA disability records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the Veteran died before a decision was made.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a new VA examination due to the Veteran's claim of worsening symptoms and the need for updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy is remanded due to its inextricability with the diabetes mellitus claim.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a TDIU prior to October 22, 2009 is being remanded for further consideration. The Board finds that the Veteran may be unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD and has referred the case to the Director of Compensation Service for an initial determination on whether an extraschedular award based on TDIU should be assigned.

The Veteran's appeal for clothing allowances is denied because the items claimed (antifungal cream, custom insoles, back brace, and knee braces) are not prescribed for service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied extraschedular evaluations for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that the disability does not present an exceptional or unusual picture with marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Veteran's right eye blindness was not incurred in the line of duty and is denied.,The Veteran's right-hand scar preexisted service and is not aggravated by service, thus denial.,The acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to service and are denied.,Bilateral knee osteoarthritis did not manifest during or within one year after service and is denied.,Bilateral hand osteoarthritis was not shown to be chronic during service and is denied.,Low back disability is not shown to exist currently and is denied.,Neuropathy is not shown to exist currently and is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal.,The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for further development regarding the Veteran's left knee, right knee, and TDIU claims.

The Board has granted service connection for Diabetes Mellitus (DM) due to herbicide exposure. The issues of service connection for Erectile Dysfunction, Bilateral Upper Extremity Neuropathy, and Bilateral Lower Extremity Neuropathy as secondary to DM are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and no higher rating is warranted.,PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since April 24, 2017. Higher ratings are not warranted for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy of the median nerve.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a nexus between his current disabilities and active service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's upper extremity neuropathy is related to his service, including any in-service herbicide exposure, or caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.