Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2008

The veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was determined to be related to an injury from a mine explosion in service, while other conditions were denied service connection.

The appeal was dismissed due to the veteran's death.

The Board finds that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as it is proximately due to diabetes mellitus type II.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a lung condition, to include asbestosis, and mononeuropathy multiplex were denied because the evidence did not show that his conditions were related to his military service.

The February 1973 rating decision that granted service connection for scars and residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left elbow, and scars and residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right forearm and wrist with sensory neuropathy of digital branch of the right radial nerve to thumb was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The Board grants service connection for bronchiectasis and peripheral neuropathy, which represents complete grants of his respiratory and neurological disability claims. The claim for a heart murmur is reopened.

The veteran's lumbar spine IVDS disability and associated neuropathy in both lower extremities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as it was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and a heart condition secondary to bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, degenerative arthritis of the hands, and degenerative arthritis of the shoulders as these conditions were not incurred in active service, to include as residuals of cold injury.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and denied claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, a urinary disorder, and a speech disorder. The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for fracture of the inferior and superior rami of the left pelvis.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity neuropathy, as the evidence showed no more than mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board remands the claim for a medical examination and opinion to determine if the veteran's acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy is related to service, including solvent exposure.

The veteran withdrew the appeal before a decision was made.

The appeal as to claims for higher initial ratings for the veteran's service-connected disabilities was denied on jurisdictional grounds due to a lack of timely substantive appeal.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied because the evidence did not establish that her peripheral neuropathy was caused by VA treatment at the Prescott Vet Center.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of PTSD or peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's current bilateral compressive femoral neuropathy is not related to his 2002 surgery, concluding instead that it is secondary to diabetes.

Service connection for optic atrophy and/or optic neuropathy of the right eye is not granted as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during service or for many years following discharge.,Service connection for dizzy spells, disorientation, fatigue, insomnia, memory loss and leg cramps is denied as there is no medical evidence linking these symptoms to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause his death, nor contribute substantially or materially to cause his death.