Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

Service connection for renal cell carcinoma and right upper extremity disorder are restored, while the issues of service connection for recurrent bladder disorder and proctitis remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, but he does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The case is being remanded for consideration of extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to conflicting medical evidence on the existence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and remanded the remaining issues on appeal, including service connection for meningitis, chronic sinusitis, encephalopathy, skin cancer, Parkinson's disease, headaches, lumbar spine DDD, vision disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, neck stiffness, disability manifested by spitting blood, acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder, and gait ataxia. The Board also remanded for additional development regarding outstanding records from the James Haley VAMC and Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine disability and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been denied by the Board.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus II, Charcot’s arthropathy, left foot deformity, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic foot ulcer, kidney condition, and diabetic bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are all granted service connection. The loss of use of creative organ, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disability, and dental conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, low back/lumbar spine disability, right shoulder, knee, ankle, and/or foot disabilities, and psychiatric disorder have all been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's assertions regarding his current diagnoses are not credible.

The Veteran's diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities was granted an initial rating of 20 percent prior to July 25, 2011. A TDIU was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hand disability (including CTS), and bilateral lower extremity disability (including neuropathy and radiculopathy) as the evidence did not show a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurologic disability of the upper extremities, to include radiculopathy or peripheral neuropathy, is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion and need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.

The Veteran is granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected major depressive disorder and headaches. He is also granted special monthly compensation for need of aid and attendance of another person, but not housebound status.

The Board denied service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not manifest within one year of presumed herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Board also found no direct evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, lower back disability, neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and neuropathy of the right lower extremity. The disabilities are considered to have originated during service.

The case is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature of the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and several other conditions. Additional development is required to determine whether the Veteran served on land in Vietnam, which could impact his service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its related complications, prostate disability/benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), adrenal gland tumor, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is a complication of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's service-connected lower extremity neuropathies and other conditions necessitate regular aid and attendance, which would affect his eligibility for SMC at a higher rate.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity disabilities render him nearly so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure has been reopened, and a rating of 20 percent is granted. The right-hand disability claim remains denied.