Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's manual wheelchair was issued for temporary use after his right foot surgery in 2011 due to service-connected conditions. However, there is no evidence that he used it as a result of his service-connected disabilities in 2014. Therefore, the claim for a clothing allowance for the 2014 calendar year for the manual wheelchair is denied.

The Veteran's annual VA clothing allowance for the year 2014 due to use of a motorized wheelchair (a Permobil Power Wheelchair) is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if his wheelchair tends to wear or tear his clothing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including glaucoma, respiratory disorder, cardiovascular disorder, anal abscess, skin cancer, and peripheral neuropathy have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, exposure to herbicide agents, or a current disability.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports.,The Veteran's heart condition, including PVCs, is being remanded as the VA examination report did not address his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate is granted since February 28, 2017 due to having a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, leaving no issues for the Board to review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination findings and requests for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disability, bilateral hip disability, altered gait (left leg being shorter than right leg), bilateral polyneuropathy of the lower extremities, atrophy of the left thigh and calf with weakness, and venous embolism. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and related complications including peripheral neuropathy, as well as bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, are granted with effective dates of February 23, 2004. The claim for earlier effective date for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had manifested tinnitus since leaving the Republic of Vietnam, and resolved any doubt in his favor to grant service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are rated at 20 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability. The claim for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma in the left eye, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities were denied. The Board found that these conditions are not related to his active duty service or any service-connected disabilities.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both found to be related to service. Service connection is denied for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.,Secondary service connection claims for eye disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable, as his education and previous work experience allow for transferable skills. His disabilities are all in stable condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to his lumbar spine, cervical spine, right ankle, hearing loss, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, chronic urination (neurogenic bladder), and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet require further examination and opinion due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of the Appellant's contentions regarding her husband's mental health conditions and alleged herbicide exposure. The VA must obtain a formal finding from the JSRRC regarding the Veteran’s alleged herbicide exposure, and develop the Appellant's claims for service connection for various disabilities.

This decision denies service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for postoperative right knee scar is also denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right hip disability, heart disability (coronary artery disease and residuals of coronary artery bypass), fasciotomy to the outer portion of the right leg, right popliteal intraoperative vascular injury, and right ankle and leg neuropathy.,Service connection is also denied for these conditions. The Board has ordered additional development in order to determine if service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left lower extremity disability, including variously diagnosed conditions such as left lateral meralgia paresthetica and mild degenerative changes of the left ankle, has been granted. Service connection was also established for PTSD with depression.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for erectile dysfunction is remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion, and the claim for hearing loss is remanded to obtain a supplemental opinion from an audiologist.