Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right foot injury, residuals of a left foot injury, asbestosis, skin rash of the right index finger, diabetes mellitus to include as due to herbicide exposure, PTSD, emphysema, and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The Board denied service connection for kidney disability, colon cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, and diabetic neuropathy as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active duty.

The Board denied service connection for chronic heart disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as these conditions are not related to active duty service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and the need for VA examinations.

The Board finds that the cause of death (Gram positive bacterial septicemia, urinary tract infection, and peripheral sensory neuropathy) had its onset many years after service and was not related to any in-service disease or injury. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for TDIU as one of his service-connected disabilities must be rated at least 40 percent disabling.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination of the veteran's lower extremities and an opinion on whether his polyneuropathy is related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's axonal neuropathy of all his extremities was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a separate rating for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that there is no confirmed diagnosis of such condition.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, including fatigue, PTSD, depressive disorder, memory loss, anxiety, anger, shortness of breath, and headaches. The appellant's service in the Southwest Asia theater did not result in any new or aggravated disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right arm disabilities, including impairment of supination and pronation, limitation of flexion of the elbow, and ulnar neuropathy with atrophy and partial claw deformity. The highest rating available under current criteria was granted for each condition.

The Board denied service connection for chronic peripheral polyneuropathy, finding no evidence of the condition during service or within a year of separation and no competent medical evidence linking it to herbicide exposure or any aspect of the veteran's period of service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and a higher rating for coronary artery disease, postoperative bypass surgery, is being remanded for further development.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for increased evaluations of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for a video conference hearing.

The veteran was denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, but tinnitus was found to have been incurred during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cold injuries, finding no evidence that he has such residuals and noting that his peripheral neuropathy is not a residual of cold injury in service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy were denied as there was no competent medical evidence linking the current diagnoses to his service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support higher disability evaluations.

The veteran's claims for service connection for familial adenosis polyposis syndrome, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, and PTSD were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.