Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeals prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, a skin disorder (presumed due to Agent Orange exposure), polyneuropathy (presumed due to Agent Orange exposure), or residuals of head injury as claimed. The decision was based on lack of evidence showing these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to his service as a firefighter, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for aid and attendance benefits due to his service-connected conditions, as there is no evidence of actual need for regular aid and attendance from another person.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current peripheral neuropathy was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not related to his service-connected hepatitis or skin disorder. Therefore, service connection for peripheral neuropathy as secondary to service-connected hepatitis and/or skin disorder is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, residuals of a neck trauma, low back disorder, peripheral neuropathy, and angina. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD and that the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, skin disability, and peripheral neuropathy. The veteran's claims were based on his in-service treatment for these conditions but the evidence did not establish current disabilities or link them to service.,There is no evidence of a current psychiatric disability, chronic skin condition, or peripheral neuropathy related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have service in Vietnam and was not exposed to Agent Orange. Therefore, his claims for secondary service connection are denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to a scheduling issue.

The veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration under different service connection theories.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, low back disorder, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, flatfeet, skin disorder, headaches, nosebleeds, sleep apnea, joint pain, depression with memory loss, sexual dysfunction, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, were denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any incident during service.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The veteran's spine disabilities are remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining her service medical records and Social Security Administration records. She will also be scheduled for VA examinations to assess the severity of her low back condition and peripheral neuropathy.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, polyuria, gastric esophageal reflux disease, and hypertension, were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease of the feet are granted as they were incurred during military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran developed a neuromuscular disorder during his military service and neuropathy is not related to his service, including exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for the neuromuscular disorder is granted, but service connection for neuropathy is denied.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for right knee and diabetes mellitus was denied. The RO has combined a 50 percent rating for status post internal derangement of the right knee with residuals and degenerative changes, and a 20 percent rating for instability of the right knee, resulting in a total combined rating of 60 percent.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 8, 1980 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The veteran's claim to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy is pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy, lower extremities and anisometropic amblyopia. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by bilateral pain, swelling, and numbness of the lower legs and feet, to include peripheral neuropathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development.