Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure is being remanded for further development, including obtaining his personnel records and verifying if he was exposed to Agent Orange in Korea. A VA examination will also be scheduled to determine the relationship between his current condition and any such exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is required before deciding the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded as additional records are needed and an examination is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability and peroneal neuropathy are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and any related complications.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and his claim for peripheral neuropathy or radiculopathy of the right lower extremity has been granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities have been dismissed as his statements indicate that a grant of 10 percent ratings would satisfy these issues. The appeal for an evaluation in excess of zero percent for hypertension has been denied.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for Charcot Marie Tooth disease is denied due to it not being a compensable disability under VA law and there being no evidence of aggravation in service. The appeal regarding the increased evaluation for low back strain was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and malignant melanoma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer with residual urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension all due to herbicide exposure during service. The evidence did not support a finding of such exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted and assigned an initial evaluation of 30 percent, which was increased to 50 percent effective the date of service connection. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent disabling with separate ratings for peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities as well as erectile dysfunction. The low back disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's fast pulse rate and cardiac arrhythmia are etiologically related to his service-connected hypertension. The preponderance of evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, but erectile dysfunction is found to be present.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining some form of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development of his claims, including a VA examination and adjudication of intertwined issues. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered based on all evidence.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation is 70 percent, and he does not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his recently connected right shoulder condition and hearing loss, make it at least as likely as not that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of both legs is related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The examiner will also assess whether there are other causes for the condition.