Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder cancer, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and Raynaud’s disease (also claimed as CREST syndrome), all of which are alleged to be due to herbicide agent exposure during his military service in the Republic of Vietnam. The VA will obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his service, including any potential exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's right ulnar neuropathy is rated at 30 percent since February 1, 2011. His right elbow epicondylitis with limitation of flexion was granted a 10 percent rating from February 1, 2011 to January 9, 2020 and a 20 percent rating on and after January 10, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to service-connected diabetes. Service connection was denied for a low back condition and a bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was denied as there is no evidence linking it to his military service, including presumed herbicide exposure. The Board found that the condition did not manifest within a year after his last exposure and is more likely related to diabetes and alcohol dependence.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to November 26, 2019 was denied as there is no evidence of occupational and social impairment warranting a higher rating. The condition has been rated at 50% since that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including IHD, diabetes, renal insufficiency, and bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA opinion regarding whether any peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities may be aggravated by the Veteran’s service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity due to lack of a timely appeal.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and peripheral neuropathy of both feet, finding no evidence to support a causal link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial disability ratings greater than 10 percent for service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities due to inadequate medical opinion. The skin disability claim is not currently before the Board.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain addendum opinions addressing the etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and right elbow/shoulder conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 9, 2009.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities due to insufficient opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, and hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the appellant died in October 2015, and thus the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in April 2019 was inadequate and requires a new examination to assess the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, including whether it is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to his service-connected Morton’s neuroma, and he has been granted a 10% evaluation for this condition since October 8, 2014.,Service connection was denied for acquired psychiatric conditions, residuals of TBI, fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal joint pain (shoulders, wrists, neck), sleep apnea, and hallux valgus with mild degenerative changes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, prevented him from engaging in physically demanding work. The Board finds the May 2014 VA examiner’s opinion inadequate to decide the TDIU claim and requests an addendum opinion addressing all of his service-connected disabilities.