Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), due to exposure to herbicide agents and for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities as secondary to DMII.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus, left and right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, and left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable rating codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and acquired psychological disorder (claimed as memory loss) due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for type II diabetes mellitus is granted. His claims for high cholesterol, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and hypertension are remanded due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure in Okinawa and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, peripheral neuropathy (claimed as secondary to diabetes), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as secondary to diabetes) due to the lack of current diagnoses in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing medical records, and a VA examination will be arranged to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, arthritis of the right knee, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, back condition, and peripheral neuropathy, have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a disability affecting the lower extremities, including a bilateral leg disability manifested by weakness and pain or neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for service connection of upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and remanded the issues regarding lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's Guillain-Barre syndrome with partial recovery and presumptive chronic inflammatory dysmyelinating polyradicular neuropathy is considered to have started during his active duty for training (ACDUTRA) service, which was in the line of duty. The Board granted service connection based on this finding.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability and the assignment of TDIU prior to September 4, 2015. The Veteran's current hip disability is not related to his service-connected disabilities or an in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disability and migraine headaches due to a lack of evidence of current disabilities. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in permanent loss of use of one or both feet, so he is denied an automobile allowance or adaptive equipment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since closing his business in 2011, thus granting TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding his claimed conditions. The issues include tinnitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the left arm, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, low back pain, hearing loss in both ears, carpal tunnel syndrome and radiculopathy, vision problems, and headaches.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including gastrointestinal disturbances, diabetes mellitus type II, headache disability, sleep disability (claimed as sleep disturbances), peripheral neuropathy in multiple extremities, anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. The reasons given were that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions or they were not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records from his federal disability retirement and Social Security Administration benefits applications.