Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for chronic kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity due to potential secondary etiology from service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied, but he was granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) from December 17, 2008 to February 4, 2019.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals seeking service connection for gastritis and increased ratings for low back disability, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy. The Board has dismissed these matters as a result.

The Board has determined that the reduction of ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy from 20 percent to 10 percent was improper, and has restored the original 20 percent ratings. The issues of increased ratings for lumbosacral spine disability and bilateral sciatic neuropathy are remanded due to lack of recent VA examination records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents. The AOJ is instructed to verify the distance between the bungalow where the Veteran lived and the areas sprayed with herbicide.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The decision regarding removal of the dependent, T., from the Veteran's award effective August 27, 2014 is withdrawn.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, kidney disorder, and sleep apnea due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.,Service connection is granted for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy/carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic kidney disease secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's heart conditions, prostate condition, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy were not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, sarcoidosis, hypertension, and right lower extremity neuropathy due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 50 percent and 40 percent, respectively, for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity. The evidence showed moderate to severe incomplete paralysis but did not meet criteria for complete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined resulted in debilitating effects that rendered him less capable of resisting heart disease.

The Veteran's combined disability rating of 70% due to service-connected conditions, including PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was received by VA on June 10, 2013. The effective date of the award is set at this date as it is later than when entitlement to a TDIU arose based on his February 3, 2012 VA examination.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, and lower extremity neuropathy. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, diabetes, peripheral neuropathies, tinnitus, and hearing loss) render him unemployable, leading to a grant of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, bilateral upper and lower extremity polyneuropathy, vasculitis, psoriatic arthritis, and osteoporosis as the evidence did not show these conditions were related to or caused by the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied. Service connection for neuropathy of the left lower extremity associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted.,The Veteran’s skin condition (tinea cruris) remains at issue and requires further examination to determine its current severity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, hypertension, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service or toxic herbicide exposure.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for duodenal and gastric ulcers, chronic B-12 deficiency with liver enzyme disorder, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, schizoaffective mood disorder, bipolar type, and pain disorder due to psychological and general medical conditions), a skin disorder (recurring back cysts), fibromyalgia, hyperlipidemia, a neurological disorder (to include waist-down paralysis, seizures, blackouts, neuropathy, and Morton’s neuroma), arthritis, hypertension, a thyroglossal duct cyst, and T10-11 spinal osteophyte and degenerative disc disease with muscle pain spasm and lower back-leg weakness (thoracolumbar spine disorder).

The Veteran's service-connected Type 2 diabetes mellitus has required only an oral hypoglycemic agent and a restricted diet, without the need for insulin or regulation of activities. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent.