Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for VA treatment records and the Veteran's testimony regarding his recent VA treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and updating treatment records from VA facilities in Rome and Syracuse.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to exposure to herbicides, finding no relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as he does not have the claimed conditions and there is no evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions were granted, with effective dates set at June 16, 2003. The initial ratings for each condition are 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU were denied. The initial rating of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy was maintained, and the left knee disability remains noncompensable.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Veteran is seeking service connection for alopecia areata, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a skin disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the character of the claimant's discharge and new evidence for reopening claims. The appeal is now in a pending status.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in either lower extremity and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were present during or within one year after service. The Veteran did not have any diagnosed hearing impairment or peripheral neuropathy in his upper extremities at separation from service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for lumbosacral strain and a cervical spine disability. The evidence added since the previous final denial is considered cumulative or redundant.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability and posttraumatic, sensory only, left common peroneal neuropathy have been granted increased ratings of 10 percent and 20 percent respectively.

The Board found that the RO properly calculated the combined schedular evaluation for the service-connected disabilities and denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a higher combined evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and assigned a 10 percent disability rating. The Veteran's eye disability is separately rated as part of his diabetes mellitus. No higher initial ratings are warranted.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right foot and left foot. The appeal was dismissed.

The Board affirmed the severance of service connection for frostbite and peripheral neuropathy, but denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability. The Veteran's claim for severance was based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in granting service connection.

The Veteran has a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling (PTSD) and additional disabilities independently rated at least 60 percent disabling. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s)(1).

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The increased rating and diabetes mellitus claims are being remanded for further development.