Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that a service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disorder or left knee disorder that is service-connected. The evidence shows no nexus between any current right or left knee disorders and his period of active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining service personnel records and addressing the VCAA notice requirements.

The Veteran's left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy has been rated as 10 percent disabling since November 1, 2003. The rating was increased to 10 percent in October 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD substantially contributed to his death from cardiac arrest. Given the evidence, including the private physician's letters linking PTSD to the Veteran's death, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and its impact on his hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection for all issues is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his neck injury is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination to determine if he has any neurological disabilities associated with his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that his disability picture does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claimed peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities was not incurred during service or due to a service-connected disability, and thus his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for spinocerebellar degeneration, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The claims were previously denied in November 1998 without providing proper notice.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, and skin cancer, as the result of exposure to herbicides are denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his sinus, right elbow, right knee, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, and bilateral plantar fasciitis disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence to support a higher evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and impotence, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability. The bilateral hand disability is considered as secondary to the left ankle tendonitis.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus has been rated as 20 percent disabling. His bilateral eye disorder, diagnosed in May 2000, is not considered service-connected due to lack of continuity of symptomatology and no evidence linking the condition to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of right ankle contusion, bilateral lower extremity numbness (including bilateral peripheral neuropathy), chronic vision disorder, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection and increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities. The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an automobile or other conveyance allowance and adaptive equipment was denied as he does not meet the criteria for loss of use of a foot or hand, nor does he have anatomical loss of any extremity or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes.