Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2010

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, effective July 18, 2008. The decision also addressed the earlier effective date claims but found that no earlier effective dates are warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected type II diabetes mellitus remains before the Board. The issue also includes separate compensable ratings for his bilateral upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The case is being remanded again due to incomplete development.

The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms of bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, as they are best described as mild neurological impairment. The evidence did not demonstrate moderate, incomplete paralysis of the bilateral upper extremities or severe, incomplete paralysis of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, which first manifested many years after service, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from metastatic adenocarcinoma of the liver. The Board finds that these conditions are minor, quiescent disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, which may be related to service or other factors.

The Board denied service connection for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure. The claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hypertension are all granted. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides in Thailand during his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaption grant due to worsening of his conditions since his last examination in June 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides during his active service. None of the disabilities at issue were present in service or until years thereafter, and none are etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus and has denied an increased rating for neurogenic bladder disease with incontinence of urine, finding that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetic nephropathy, diabetes mellitus, and various neuropathies of the lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed peripheral neuropathy of both left and right lower extremities is related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Reynaud's phenomenon, nocturnal pain, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, as well as advanced left first metacarpal degenerative joint disease, were denied because there is no current evidence of these conditions. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed disability related to his service-connected residuals of cold injury.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right ulnar neuropathy. The claims for service connection and increased rating are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities for accrued benefits purposes, finding no evidence of an increase in disability severity.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development of evidence, including obtaining VA medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in the right upper extremity and lower extremities are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim of severance of service connection for peripheral neuropathy in the left upper extremity is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected hernia repair with peripheral neuropathy due to degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities has been rated at 20 percent since December 7, 2009. The disability is characterized by constant numbness and tingling in the feet extending to the ankles or higher.