Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptations were denied due to the lack of service connection criteria being met.

The Board found no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board found that the Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities did not manifest within a year of his separation from active duty service, was not incurred in or is otherwise related to his military service, and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetic neuropathy of all extremities is denied as the condition was not diagnosed until August 2011, which is after May 8, 2001 when diabetes mellitus (the basis for presumptive service connection) was added to the list of diseases associated with herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and TDIU prior to January 3, 2012 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the schedular criteria or for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities alone.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, and therefore entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred during or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities were denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was withdrawn. The claims for service connection for RUE and LUE peripheral neuropathy were reopened due to the submission of new evidence related to herbicide exposure during service. However, an etiological opinion is needed regarding whether the current peripheral neuropathy is related to service.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is found to be related to his service in Vietnam, including exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD based on a claimed in-service stressor. The Board finds that his acquired psychiatric disorder (including mood disorder with depression) is secondary to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to new evidence, including a VA examination and treatment records. The AOJ will consider this evidence in their next review of the case.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination, and to provide a new opinion on the nature and etiology of any right hand disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition and neuropathy due to his attorney requesting withdrawal of these claims prior to a decision. The Veteran's right and left feet are rated at 40 percent each under the criteria for loss of use of the foot.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy and PTSD. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employment. The issues of reopening a claim for cataracts, obtaining VA treatment records, and scheduling an examination are pending.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for diabetic neuropathy in all four extremities has been granted, with a 40 percent evaluation for his right upper extremity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his irritable bowel syndrome, right ulnar neuropathy, and low back pain.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected degenerative changes of the mid-thoracic spine due to lack of a diagnosis in the December 2012 VA examination, and new evidence is needed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the grant of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).