Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper, left upper, left lower, and right lower extremities due to presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and failure to follow its own instructions. The Veteran's VA treatment records from 2010 to present need to be obtained for proper evaluation of her kidney disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for sensorimotor neuropathy in both the left and right lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot, right foot, left hand, and right hand peripheral neuropathy due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disease in service or within a presumptive period, and that the current diagnoses were not related to service.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected residuals of thumb fracture and right-hand neuropathy of the median nerve, as the most recent VA examinations are nearly nine years old. The claims for increased ratings are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated lower extremity neuropathies due to incomplete private treatment records. The VA is instructed to attempt to obtain these records from Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Joslin Diabetes Center, and any emergency medical services that treated the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and right lower extremity neuropathy were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for heart disability and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, asthma, bilateral pes planus, and others, have prevented her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since June 26, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been granted. The exposure is presumed to be due to his in-service duties aboard the USS Ranger.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as the TDIU claim, are remanded.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted TDIU from October 10, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and TDIU is remanded due to incomplete development of his RUE peripheral neuropathy claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating and initial ratings for his right elbow disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for skin disability of the hands, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to inadequate development. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development, specifically requiring an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to her service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, require the regular aid and attendance of another person due to their severity. The Board finds that SMC based on aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has found that further examination and opinion are necessary before a decision can be rendered regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral leg disability other than peripheral neuropathy (muscle atrophy), and eye disability (cone-rod dystrophy).

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and related secondary conditions have been granted. However, the Board has found that additional evidence is needed to determine if his kidney disease and peripheral neuropathy are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.