Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination to assess his employability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, vision disability, left knee and right knee disabilities, left foot condition, right foot condition, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and a psychiatric disorder claimed initially as catatonic schizophrenia. The decision also noted that the Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for a vision disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's service treatment records were completely negative for any complaints, treatment, or diagnosis of his claimed conditions. The RO denied service connection for all issues on appeal due to lack of evidence and because the Veteran did not perfect an appeal within the allotted time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, multiple myeloma, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, hypertension, gout, and residuals of kidney infection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board found that there was no confirmed exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Thailand.

The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is attributable to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and right upper extremity neuropathy were denied. The Board found no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain in the hands, legs and feet, a disability manifested by loss of balance, and acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy were denied as these conditions are not related to his active service. The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for pulmonary emphysema is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected post-operative herniated nucleus pulposus, right at LS-S1, is rated at 20 percent. A separate evaluation of 10 percent for lumbosacral neuropathy has also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss, and his claim for service connection of actinic keratoses and skin cancer was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities has been rated at 10 percent since September 9, 2002. The rating was increased to 20 percent effective March 14, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to herbicides during active duty.

The Board has determined that the appellant is in need of regular aid and attendance due to her multiple, severely disabling physical disabilities, including significant visual acuity and field of vision disorders. The evidence supports a finding that she requires assistance with activities such as dressing, basic hygiene, feeding, toileting, bending to tie shoe laces, and walking at night.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for lung cancer residuals was pending at the time of his death. His April 2005 pulmonary function test results supported an award of a 60 percent disability rating, which is granted as accrued benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is being remanded due to uncertainty regarding whether he has this condition and if it is related to his diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy did not begin during service and is not related to service, thus denying his claim.

The Board denied service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda and peripheral neuropathy with secondary anxiety and hypertension, both of which are presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure. The evidence did not show current manifestations within one year of the last date of herbicide exposure in September 1970.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to unclear requests and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, trigeminal neuralgia, and right ear hearing loss were denied. The claim for TDIU was dismissed as moot due to a combined 100 percent service-connected rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the case is remanded for further development including a VA examination to determine his ability to obtain and maintain employment.