Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his claims for right ankle disability and diabetes mellitus, type II prior to a decision being made. Service connection was granted for tinnitus but denied for sleep apnea, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, low back disability, neuropathy of left lower extremity, and neuropathy of right lower extremity.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as related symptoms of radiculopathy, neuropathy, and foot drop, are granted a rating of 40 percent since June 20, 2016. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand and thus no presumptive service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and tinnitus have been granted. However, the remaining claims related to bilateral lower extremity disability, bilateral upper extremity disability, urinary disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability (secondary to left ankle), lower back disability (secondary to left ankle), bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a ruptured ear drum have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU prior to July 18, 2017 is denied as the evidence does not support that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to this date.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity was shown to be at least a mild degree within one year after separation from service, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for hypertension was denied. The claims for increased ratings for left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as the TDIU claim, were all denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the Veteran is able to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral foot disorders including neuropathic foot pain and small fiber sensory neuropathy, as well as the claim for TDIU due to these disabilities. The case is being returned to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neurological disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed to be the result of his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The Board granted service connection for this condition. Other issues related to ischemic heart disease and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy, to include as due to herbicide agent exposure, is granted. The appeal is remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, including residuals of frostbite and peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to exposure to radiation during service. The AOJ is required to complete all development needed to obtain any available records concerning the Veteran’s reported in-service exposure to radiation from the appropriate source, followed by an attempt to obtain a dose estimate.

The Veteran's frostbite and peripheral neuropathy conditions have been rated appropriately, but further development is needed for the right lower extremity and left lower extremity ratings.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as incurred during wartime service. The claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities associated with diabetes mellitus, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, right and left lower extremities due to inadequate examinations and lack of rationale in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his residuals, status post fracture of the distal phalanges, of the right ring finger is denied. The Board also ordered a remand for further examination to determine if the Veteran's right ulnar neuropathy is related to service or secondary to his service-connected residuals, right ring finger laceration.