Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and the need for additional VA outpatient records.

The VA medical opinion found that the Veteran's bilateral pneumonia was less likely as not related to any service-connected disability or disabilities, and concluded that his death is also less likely as not related to hypertension or heart disease. The Board therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the left leg and thigh, and back disorder have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for residuals of right leg below-the-knee amputation, PVD of the right leg, and Buerger's disease as his current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his failure to respond to the Board's request for clarification regarding whether he still wishes to pursue any issues on appeal.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of this decision. His bilateral sciatic neuropathy is also rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes and renal disease were denied as new and material evidence was not received. The claim for peripheral neuropathy is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange.,Service connection for degenerative osteoarthritis of the left shoulder has been granted with an effective date of April 12, 2000.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence of acute or subacute peripheral neuropathy within one year after his presumed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The condition was not diagnosed until many years after service discharge.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's current left foot pain and discomfort are not deemed to be due to the 1983 bunionectomy performed at Kerrville VAMC, as his VA examination found no evidence of complications related to the surgery.

The Board determined that there was no competent evidence linking the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and its associated conditions to his chemical exposure during service. The appeal is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected due to a military sexual trauma. However, his right lower extremity neurological disorder is not service-connected as it is related to diabetes rather than his service-connected ankle fracture.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type 2 is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty, and thus is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents. As a result, he meets the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need to obtain and review consent forms related to his thoracic spine surgery, which may affect the determination of whether the loss of vision was a reasonably foreseeable event.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, refractive error, senile cataracts optic neuropathy (claimed as loss of sight, glaucoma and loss of field vision), migraine headaches, hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied. The claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for vertigo was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.