Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for further examination. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and associated bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and determined that there is new and material evidence to support this claim. However, the Board also found that the medical evidence does not establish a causal relationship between the veteran's current condition and his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's claims for service connection and SMC were denied due to the lack of evidence showing a direct link between his conditions and his military service. The claim for PTSD was granted, but not at an increased rate.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's diabetes mellitus, adhesive capsulitis of both shoulders, and diabetic neuropathy of both upper extremities. The veteran appealed for higher initial ratings for these conditions, but the Board found no basis to grant any rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis, peripheral neuropathy of the left leg and foot, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and PTSD. The veteran was not shown to have a current disability related to asbestos exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's low back and left knee disorders are not related to his service-connected right knee condition. The claims for service connection were denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities was not caused by carelessness, negligence, or similar fault on the part of VA. The claim is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of them were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is manifested by subjective complaints of numbness, pain, feeling of needles in both hands and bottoms of the feet during the night, and weakened grip strength. The VA has granted increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the severity of the veteran's bilateral eye disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy (also claimed as right and left foot tingling with sleepiness, sleep apnea), to include as associated with herbicide exposure. The evidence submitted since the April 1998 denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions, and there was insufficient evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cold injury residuals, feet, hands, and lower body as there was no current disability to his hands or lower body. The Board found that the veteran's bilateral foot neuropathy is not related to service, including cold weather exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are denied as there is no evidence showing a more than mild degree of disability.

The Board has decided that the veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include major depression and PTSD, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are remanded for further development.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, effectively ending the case.

The Board is remanding the cases to the RO for clarification on whether the veteran desires a Travel Board or videoconference hearing, and to schedule such hearing in accordance with his preference.