Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not necessitate the need for aid and attendance, as he is able to perform most of his daily activities independently.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination regarding his bilateral foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the left dorsal olecranon enthesophyte of the elbow, finding that it began during active service. The other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as it does not have jurisdiction over this issue.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for her scar on the right heel is denied as she does not have more than two painful scars of the right foot, and her scars do not cover an area of 929 square centimeters or more.,The Veteran's request for a higher rating for her scar on the medial right foot is denied as her scars do not cover an area of 929 square centimeters or more.,The Veteran's request for a higher rating for her neuropathy of the right foot is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8523.

The Board has granted service connection for a right submandibular lipoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the right back and right proximal forearm, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to in-service exposure to herbicides. Service connection was denied for disability of the lymph nodes.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as gout, all secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's claim was also remanded for further development regarding GERD.

The Board denied service connection for upper extremities tremulous disorder and lower extremities neurological disorders due to presumed herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's claims were not supported by current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and specially adapted housing/special home adaption grant due to incomplete or missing information in the records. The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 7, 1999, for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral and upper and lower extremities is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is being remanded for further review due to the need for additional medical records and SSA disability benefits records. The TDIU claim from January 1, 2011 to February 4, 2011 is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that exposure to herbicides in Thailand is presumed. The Veteran's current diagnoses are attributed to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity disabilities, including radiculopathy and neuropathy, due to a right shin and foot injury in service. The claim is also remanded for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. An addendum VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran’s bilateral lower extremity conditions are related to herbicide agent exposure. A VA examination is also required to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right extremities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to in-service exposure to herbicide agents or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, and the appeal is remanded for further action.

The Veteran's original claim for bilateral ear condition was denied in January 1980. New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen this claim.,The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability is remanded.,The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease and spondylosis at L5-S1, is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's neck disability, including cervical spondylosis and cervical, thoracic, and lumbar lordosis, is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's neuropathy and/or radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's neuropathy and/or radiculopathy of the left upper extremity is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's neuropathy and/or radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's neuropathy and/or radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease with disc protrusion are all denied initial ratings in excess of the currently assigned ratings.,Higher initial ratings for these conditions are not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cardiovascular disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension due to diabetes mellitus, type II is granted on a presumptive basis. Service connection for vision/cataracts condition and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II was granted. The increased rating claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis were denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective September 24, 2014. Service connection for neuropathy of the lower extremities, gastrointestinal disability, and erectile dysfunction are granted.