Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and for further development of his claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's white matter disease and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records and to provide him with a VA examination. The claims will be readjudicated after all relevant evidence is considered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board vacated its previous decision due to the presence of a temporary claims file containing evidence that was not considered at the time, including service connection for depression and an increased disability rating.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus granted as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including right arm radial nerve neuropathy, shoulder rotator cuff repair, lumbar and cervical spine conditions, left and right knee surgeries, and GERD. The appeals were addressed in the context of initial ratings assigned.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity has been granted a 40 percent disability rating effective June 30, 2008. The left upper extremity is rated at 30 percent since that date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to June 30, 2006, for the grant of total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a formal or informal claim for TDIU prior to June 30, 2006.

The Board has determined that further development of the evidence is required before the claims can be adjudicated. The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded to the RO.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic sinus disability did not manifest during his active duty service and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for left-sided neuropathy is being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, neck disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of right hand are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after his military service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in service or due to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant requesting withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and right median neuropathy. The case will be reconsidered after the additional evidence has been reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not related to service and does not have any current residuals of frostbite of the bilateral lower extremities. As such, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's nerve injury to the right leg is considered a direct result of his June 2007 VA surgical treatment, but it was not caused by any fault or error on the part of VA. The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and esophageal cancer are being remanded for additional VA examinations to determine if they are related to service exposure to herbicides. The Veteran also has a claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss which is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that these conditions were not incurred in or related to active service.