Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's conditions, including diabetes and its related complications, are not service connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection based on lack of evidence showing onset or causation in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's achievement of a vocational goal as a social worker is not reasonably feasible due to his felony conviction, and therefore denied his claim for additional vocational rehabilitation and education benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status, nor does she meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions and treatment records, as well as to complete VA examinations for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The claim for TDIU was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome with ulnar neuropathy, as well as his requests for earlier effective dates and TDIU. The disability was rated at 10 percent prior to December 18, 2006, and at 30 percent beginning that date.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus granted.,COPD is presumed due to Agent Orange exposure and is therefore granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding these conditions. Service connection was denied for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The heart disorder claim remains pending as it involves secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for ulnar neuropathy of the right upper extremity, traumatic arthritis with loose body of the right elbow, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) remains pending.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically diabetes and its complications, PTSD, and hearing loss. The Board grants the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities has been linked by medical professionals to his active service, specifically to herbicide exposure therein. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is granted service connection as a result of Agent Orange exposure during his Vietnam-era service. The other claims for diabetes, neuropathy, and ischemic heart disease are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II with peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, residuals of status post right hemicolectomy secondary to bowel perforation from colonoscopy with status post ventral hernia repair and scar, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is not related to his military service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral wrist disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome and left elbow disorders are granted. The Veteran also has been diagnosed with PTSD and his claim is granted on this basis. Service connection is denied for liver disorder and TBI residuals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease, finding that the earliest date of receipt of a claim was March 9, 2010. The Board also found no evidence of a prior claim for service connection for coronary artery disease before this date.

The Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left feet are granted as they are considered to be due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.