Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic neurological disability of the right upper extremity, and thus denied service connection for this condition. Service connection was also not granted for DJD of the right wrist as it did not meet the criteria for an initial 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy disorder of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is related to his active service, granting him service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left leg condition, diagnosed as neuropathy due to femoral nerve compression and post-herniorrhaphy neuralgia, is proximately due to his service-connected left inguinal hernia. Therefore, the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury, manifested by headaches, is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and chronic disabilities of the knees and ankles are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's death was due to ischemic heart disease complicated by diabetes mellitus type II. The appellant submitted a claim for accrued benefits, but the Board found that there were no claims pending at the time of the Veteran's death and thus no accrued benefits were due.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and that the disorders are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, skin disorder, hypertension, sleep apnea, and leg stents are denied as there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during his service in Guam. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for type II diabetes mellitus from January 13, 2010 is granted and set at 20 percent. The claims for service connection for necrobiosis of the feet, hypertension, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and additional evidence, as well as inextricably intertwined issues of TDIU.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to May 13, 2009 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied. The Veteran's high cholesterol was not found to be a disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone has prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since February 26, 2010. Additionally, the combination of his service-connected disabilities (including PTSD) has resulted in a combined schedular rating of 70 percent effective February 26, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and erectile dysfunction, have been granted. He is also granted SMC at the housebound rate.,Initial ratings of 20 percent each for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both feet as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus. The issue of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the November 2010 VA examination report.

The Veteran seeks service connection for multifocal motor neuropathy, which he attributes to his inservice exposure to Agent Orange. The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to determine if the current condition is related to military service and/or inservice herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral vision loss, a psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder), chronic headaches, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis of the right shoulder, arthritis of the left shoulder, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, arthritis of the right knee, arthritis of the left knee, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has also been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected disabilities, including left foot paresthesias, exostosis of the left ankle, right shoulder capsulitis with nonunion fracture of the acromion and surgical scar, and left ankle scar. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a brain tumor - right bifrontal meningioma has been reopened due to new evidence submitted since his last final denial in 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a heart disorder (to include a heart attack), finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus and PTSD, finding that his conditions did not warrant higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, including as due to herbicide exposure. The case is being remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total rating for convalescence following surgery for a service-connected disability was dismissed due to the grant of such benefit in a May 2016 rating decision.