Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service, including exposure to herbicides. Service connection is denied for COPD, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome/Sleep Apnea, breathing problems (including bronchitis and emphysema), peripheral neuropathy of upper extremities, ingrown toenails of lower extremities, GERD, and edema of lower extremities.

The Veteran's spinal stenosis with lumbosacral strain was rated at 20 percent prior to April 13, 2015 and increased to 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran also received separate ratings for neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for non-small cell lung cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, mild pedal neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction were all granted with effective dates set at March 20, 2008.,Earlier effective dates are denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim filed by the Veteran before March 20, 2008.

The Veteran meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected PTSD, which is rated at 70 percent disabling. His other service-connected conditions do not meet or approximate the percentage requirements for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are so severe as to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is not manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis, and therefore, the initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for both right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are denied.

The Board found no evidence to support the claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, including any exposure to herbicides or other toxins. The Veteran's condition was first noted 40 years after his military service and multiple VA examinations concluded that it is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service, which is a basis for presumptive service connection for his claimed conditions. The claims are granted.

The Board has decided that additional development is necessary before the case can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining an opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's polyneuropathy was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and right leg neuropathy, both of which were diagnosed in 2005, are denied as there is no evidence of their onset during active service or within one year of separation. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has received notification of the appellant's request to withdraw his appeal, and therefore, the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing via live videoconference at the RO.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to herbicides.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, PTSD, anal fissure, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy, right ankle laxity, inguinal hernia repair residuals, left ear scar, groin scar, and erectile dysfunction, collectively preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, tinnitus, and transient ischemic attacks and right middle cerebral infarct, combine to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's left elbow disability and associated ulnar neuropathy are currently rated at 10 percent, effective since January 2003. The claim for TDIU is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity as secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his initial rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with DJD was also denied.