Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; hypertension; erectile dysfunction (ED); peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities; and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities due to conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of his condition. The case is now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary before these claims can be adjudicated on their respective merits, including the need for VA examinations and a determination of whether the Veteran meets the schedular or extraschedular criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating in excess of 20 percent for DJD of the thoracolumbar spine was denied, while service connection for PN of the bilateral upper and lower extremities and IBS were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for left knee disability, and concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of PTSD was denied, as the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was also denied, as his service-connected disabilities alone did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, right eye diabetic retinopathy, prostatitis with urethritis, bilateral hearing loss, tinea pedis with diabetic dermopathy, and tinea cruris has been granted. Effective dates have not yet been determined for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremities peripheral neuropathy is denied as not related to herbicide exposure or service-connected heart disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened, and additional VA examinations are needed to determine the current level of disability for each condition. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for SMC is also remanded.

Service connection is granted for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, right upper extremity, and left upper extremity.,Service connection is denied for ocular hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, type II diabetes, PTSD, tinnitus, and diabetic neuropathy, have caused his erectile dysfunction. As a result, both the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction and the SMC claim based on loss of use of a creative organ are granted.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left lower extremity femoral nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, finding that the disability is primarily manifest by mild to moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss and tinnitus, have been granted. However, the issues of service connection for hypertension, skin disorder (including actinic keratosis and rosacea), diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors.

The Board has denied service connection for asbestosis and remanded the issue of service connection for a neurological disability of the lower extremities (claimed as peripheral neuropathy). The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of asbestosis, but his subjective sensory symptoms are consistent with small fiber neuropathy. The Board requested an addendum opinion to determine if these symptoms are related to military service and herbicide agent exposure.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and a specific opinion on the severity of the Veteran's service-connected residuals of chemotherapy including ulnar neuropathy and thigh numbness, specifically addressing the impact of chemotherapy agents.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether ischemic stroke is related to service-connected cardiovascular disease, and a new examination is needed to clarify this issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions have been granted, with some changes in the effective dates and ratings assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed disabilities, finding that he was not exposed to herbicides during service and thus could not establish presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy in both lower extremities is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding whether his reported thigh cramps during service are related to his current condition.