Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, loss of right kidney (due to renal cell carcinoma), bilateral upper and lower peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim was reopened based on new evidence.,Service connection for these conditions could not be established because the Veteran did not have presumptive exposure to herbicides in Korea.

The Board dismissed all issues from appeal due to the Veteran's attorney withdrawing representation and expressing an intent to withdraw all issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neuropathy of the bilateral feet, finding it related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for a compensable disability rating for residuals of a right fourth metacarpal fracture.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, colon cancer, COPD, heart disability, sleep apnea, peptic ulcer, hydrocele, type II diabetes mellitus, urothelial cancer (claimed as bladder cancer), cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The cause of death claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete examination reports, insufficient evidence of current disability severity, and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to convalescence following cardiac catheterization with stent placement is denied.,Claims for effective dates prior to January 27, 2015, for service connection of PTSD and tinnitus are denied.,Claims for an increased rating for prostate cancer are denied as there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the claim.,Claims for peripheral neuropathy of various extremities and residuals of malaria are remanded due to incomplete records.,Claims for a higher evaluation for tinnitus, IHD, PTSD, and prostate cancer are remanded.,Claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity, femoral nerve, and right lower extremity, femoral nerve have been denied.,Effective August 13, 2019, a 20 percent rating was granted for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, sciatic nerve. Effective October 18, 2019, ratings in excess of 20 percent were denied for all conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen and grant service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that it is etiologically related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, specifically whether it is related to in-service radiation exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were each rated at 20 percent from November 6, 2019, and prior to that date, they were both rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not compensably service-connected.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The hyperkeratotic lesion of the right foot is remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. The claim for COPD is denied due to lack of a causal link between current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability has been granted a rating of 10 percent, effective April 9, 2010. Service connection for peroneal neuropathy of the left lower extremity is also granted as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents, as there is insufficient competent medical evidence to make a decision on these claims. The Veteran's contentions of exposure to herbicide agents have not been conceded by VA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.,The Board remanded the issue of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, COPD, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service or exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown in service or within one year after discharge.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation for loss of use of the left foot beginning September 30, 2016, due to service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete discussion of residual conditions and the applicability of recent amendments to rating criteria.