Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and whether it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including cancers and neurological disorders, all potentially related to exposure to burn pits. The case is being remanded for additional medical records and verification of a claimed stressor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The reduction of the disability rating for gouty arthritis of the right ankle was upheld, but a restoration of a 30 percent evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 8520. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA disability records and a medical examination to assess the extent of his service-connected disabilities' impact on his ability to use his lower extremities.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy and hypertension, finding that the conditions were not related to service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service treatment records are negative for complaints, treatment, and diagnoses of peripheral neuropathy. His post-service medical records do not support a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy of the left upper or bilateral lower extremities. Therefore, his claims for service connection for these disabilities have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of lower extremities due to vestibular neuropathy was denied. The issue of service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was also addressed but the rating assigned is not applicable as it pertains to special monthly compensation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are now pending.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral arm and finger disorder, as well as his diabetes mellitus, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension is not found to be caused by or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling prior to July 28, 2009 and higher than 10 percent thereafter.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities was not incurred in or aggravated by service, to include herbicide exposure. Service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder secondary to the Veteran's service-connected paresthesia of the left lateral thigh. The claim for a higher rating for paresthesia of the left lateral thigh is also granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board has granted service connection for sensory neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that it is likely due to the service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension, are denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during his service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that severing the Veteran's service connection for peripheral artery disease of the left and right lower extremities, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and impotence is not warranted as the grant was clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA records and scheduling examinations to address the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was granted, with the earliest assignable effective date being February 14, 1998.