Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, urinary frequency, and sexual dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, all of which were deemed not related to the veteran's active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's immune complex disease, including chloracne, acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy, porphyria cutanea tarda, or any other immune complex disease are at least as likely as not directly related to his exposure to Agent Orange in service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete information and evidence. The claims of service connection for residuals of injury to the right great toe, bilateral hearing loss, and pneumonia are also being remanded.

The Board found no evidence of a current upper spine condition or any link between the veteran's service-connected lumbar herniated nucleus pulposis and his claimed conditions. The claim for an upper spine condition was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating in any of his service-connected conditions, including right ankle strain, neuropathy of the right thigh, and seasonal allergic rhinitis. As such, his claims are denied.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease to which an examiner could relate the currently diagnosed conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and residuals of right arm fracture have been denied. The claim for increased rating for residuals of right total hip replacement has been granted with a current evaluation of 70 percent.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with neuropathy of the lower extremities is rated at 20 percent and his multiple subcutaneous lipomas are rated at 10 percent. The Board denied all issues as there was no evidence to support a higher rating for either condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left triceps with left ulnar neuropathy is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations and the need for updated treatment records. The case will be reconsidered after these are obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inextricably intertwined issue of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus. The veteran's peripheral neuropathy is being considered as secondary to his type II diabetes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea/insomnia, chloracne as secondary to herbicide exposure, a cervical spine disability, and peripheral neuropathy. The veteran's complaints of these conditions were not found to be related to his time in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a Travel Board hearing and other procedural issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, but denied earlier effective dates. The veteran's claims are based on direct service connection and not due to a presumption or new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further medical examination and opinion regarding the veteran's claimed peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities, as there is insufficient evidence in the file to determine if it is related to service or any other condition.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy of the left leg that is related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a contemporaneous VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because there was no evidence of a formal or informal claim for TDIU prior to August 28, 2003. The effective date remains May 20, 2002.