Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes and related complications rendered him incapable of securing and following substantially gainful employment, and the Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional records and verification of his reported flight onboard the USS ORISKANY.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities, finding that they are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to February 20, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. Additional development is needed to verify his reported exposures in Puerto Rico.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for disfiguring scars of the face, chin and back of the head due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are remanded for further development including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his peripheral neuropathy and headaches are related to service-connected residuals of gunshot wound.

The Veteran's spouse was added as a dependent to his VA disability compensation award effective September 1, 2001.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, with the effective date being August 30, 2001.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to pneumonia and diffuse polyneuropathy, neither of which are service-connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection for the cause of death, survivor's pension benefits, and accrued benefits due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD and some of his other claims are dismissed. The diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of any neuropathy of the upper extremities and melanoma, including consideration of service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, tremors, and peripheral neuropathy due to potential service connection based on exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's in-service exposure is presumed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder, left knee, and bilateral feet. The issues of service connection for neuropathy are also remanded. HIV is remanded as there is a current diagnosis and in-service incidents. PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder) are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has the education and work history to perform sedentary administrative duties.

The Board denied service connection for back and neck disabilities, as well as bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and lower extremity neuropathy. The evidence did not show any in-service injuries or diseases related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unemployable and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective September 2, 2011.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen several service connection claims, but the Veteran's claim for a right thigh condition remains denied as there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to his active duty service. The other reopened claims are also denied due to lack of competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities rated at least 60%, qualifies him for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's right shoulder arthroplasty with scars is currently rated at 60 percent, which reflects severe painful motion and weakness. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating as the current rating adequately accounts for his symptoms.