Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with implanted cardiac pacemaker, unspecified depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and related peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted, effective from June 18, 2010, through June 13, 2012.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for left lower extremity neuropathy, but the case is remanded to consider the Veteran's TDIU claim in light of this grant and his other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance due to concerns about updated VA examinations, particularly regarding a bilateral knee disorder. The examiner is requested to clarify whether this disorder is related to service-connected conditions or if it should be considered separately.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist/hand disabilities due to lack of objective evidence showing these conditions within a year of separation from service. The Veteran's assertions that symptoms could be traced back to service were not credible given the long period since separation.

The Veteran's appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a staph infection of the bone of the left ankle due to VA surgical treatment is dismissed as moot because service connection was granted for the same condition secondary to service-connected residuals of left ankle fracture.

The Board has determined that the original grants of service connection for Hodgkin's disease, CHF and pulmonary hypertension with tachycardia and automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ACID) placement, and peripheral neuropathy were clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to incorrect application of VA law and regulation.

The Board has granted service connection for psychosomatic ulnar neuropathy of the left upper extremity and a digestive disability, claimed as sprue (chronic diarrhea), both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with conversion disorder.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension are granted as due to herbicide exposure during service.,Tinnitus is also granted as due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of prostate cancer residuals, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, Type II, diabetic neuropathy of the right upper extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity as there was no formal claim or intent to file a claim prior to June 10, 2019.

The Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for congestive heart failure, sleep apnea, headaches, and high blood pressure have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.,Service connection has also not been granted for spinal stenosis, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for right ulnar nerve neuropathy and remanded the issue of a temporary total evaluation for convalescence following surgery in July 2019.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions in the record.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a single service-connected disability rated as total and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records from his active duty period and one year after discharge. The Veteran needs to provide additional treatment records from the Chicago VAMC.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The claim for service connection for a prostate condition, diagnosed as benign prostate hypertrophy, status post TURP with history of chronic urinary retention is dismissed. The claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are remanded due to new evidence received since the March 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and various knee and foot conditions, effectively preclude him from all forms of substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.