Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated after service connection for PTSD is determined.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, Crohn's disease, and tingling and numbness of the hands and feet due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the hands and enlarged prostate, finding no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The cervical spine disability was rated as 20% prior to September 17, 2002 and 40% thereafter. The wrist injury with ulnar neuropathy and right shoulder strain were both rated at 10%. No earlier effective date was granted for the service connection of right shoulder strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for DDD with herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbosacral spine and an initial compensable evaluation for neuropathy of the left lower extremity from April 4, 2006.

The Board denied service connection for an eye disability and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral onychomycosis do not warrant higher ratings. The decision also grants an effective date prior to February 5, 2003 for service connection of diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, lung condition, neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), right shoulder arthritis, left hand arthritis, bilateral wrist arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral hip arthritis have been denied. The denial is based on the lack of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating for hearing loss or tinnitus, and did not establish service connection for PTSD, schizophrenia, testicular cancer, prostate cancer, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, or Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's mononeuropathy of the right upper extremity is not considered to be caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The Board finds that the risk of a stroke after carotid endarterectomy was foreseeable and informed consent for the procedure was obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye disability resulting in vision loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current eye disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's headaches are not related to his service or any service-connected disability. His mandible fracture residuals do not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, and his peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities are separately evaluated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral vascular disease with neuropathy of the lower extremities is currently rated at 20 percent, which reflects moderate incomplete paralysis. The Veteran's pilonidal cyst has been assigned a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, including as due to herbicide exposure and secondary to diabetes mellitus, is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran seeks service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, low back pain, left hand numbness, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and determine if they are sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. His claims for various disabilities and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are not before the Board.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional service records and determine whether new evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The issue of service connection for peripheral neuropathy will also be remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the diabetes mellitus claim.