Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an increased rating for PTSD are being remanded due to missing VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), and peripheral neuropathy of all extremities due to new evidence received after the September 2012 rating decision. The Veteran's exposure is alleged to be from in-country Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to his service-connected PTSD is granted. The claims for service connection for neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity are denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, femoral peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and left lower extremity have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a 20 percent rating for sciatic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity has been granted, subject to further development.,The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, including arteriosclerotic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral retinopathy, neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, as well as issues related to his service-connected diabetes. The remand requires obtaining relevant reports from the U.S. Army and other agencies.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease requires further examination and opinion due to the lack of a specific diagnosis in his October 2014 statement. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is moot given the existing SMC rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of recent VA examination reports, and the claim for a TDIU will be reconsidered with these new documents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's conditions include chronic UTIs, laryngopharyngeal reflux, fibromyalgia, and polyneuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding VA and private treatment records not being associated with the claims file. The Veteran needs to provide updated medical evidence from Baptist Medical Center Montclair.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathies are rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines, with no higher ratings granted. The Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU prior to November 22, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy (upper and lower extremities), and diabetic retinopathy due to new evidence or further clarification of the etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, and he has additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent. Therefore, the Veteran is entitled to SMC at the housebound rate from September 27, 2008 to January 23, 2010.

The Board has decided that a TDIU is warranted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The decision is remanded for further action including obtaining outstanding medical records, clarifying part-time employment history, and seeking documents related to any applications for SSDI or unemployment insurance benefits.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) are not service-connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD), leukemia, COPD, AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder, urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, 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, cervical spine disability (cervical spine disability), DMII (diabetes mellitus, type II), and lumbar spine disability are not granted.,Service connection for leukemia is remanded.,Service connection for COPD is remanded.,Service connection for AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder (claimed as arthritis of the left shoulder) is remanded.,Service connection for urinary frequency, to include as secondary to service-connected DMII with diabetic ulcer of the right foot or service-connected lumbar spine disability, and service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to service-connected DMII or service-connected lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity prior to July 19, 2012, and higher than 30 percent thereafter; peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity prior to July 19, 2012, and higher than 20 percent thereafter; peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity; and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.,Service connection for cervical spine disability (cervical spine disability); service connection for DMII (diabetes mellitus, type II); and service connection for lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Service connection for CAD associated with hypertension is remanded.,Service connection for lipoma tumor on the spine is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The effective date for the grants of service connection for dizziness and vertigo, dysarthria, right upper extremity weakness, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and weakness has been set at September 16, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a right leg amputation below the knee, adjustment disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, right leg scars, and back disability, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity progressive axonal sensorimotor neuropathy results in loss of use of both feet, which qualifies him for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his active duty periods and the relationship between his current conditions and military service. The AOJ must verify the Veteran’s ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA dates, obtain addendum medical opinions, and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination to assess his employment capacity.