Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person is being remanded due to recent changes in his disability ratings, receipt of additional evidence, and potential missing VA examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for a left elbow disorder (left ulnar neuropathy) but denied service connection for right elbow and respiratory disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy are not related to his service-connected diabetes. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have diagnosed peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and thus denied service connection for these conditions as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. Service connection was also denied for hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, finding no evidence to support a link between his current condition and exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for L5-S1 small disc protrusion with degenerative disease, sciatica with neuropathy, and a left knee disorder, finding that these conditions are not etiologically related to or aggravated by service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the appellant's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus and his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a spinal cord stimulator implantation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left lower extremity neuropathy is not attributable to his service, did not manifest within one year of his separation from service and was not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The initial disability rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of CUE in two rating decisions and also denied his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU. The Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal on any of these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and related disorders, including as due to herbicide exposure in Thailand, is being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a liver condition, infectious hepatitis, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and intermittent joint pain. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicides during his service in Korea.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities were each rated at 20 percent prior to May 1, 2007. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for these conditions.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that there is a nexus between the Veteran's current neuropathy or numbness of the legs and his period of active service, including either the spinal anesthesia or spinal tap administered during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further investigation regarding his service-connected PTSD and potential duplicate file.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outpatient treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including residuals of cold injuries to the feet and hands, do not render him unemployable as his conditions are related primarily to lumbar radiculopathy and Parkinson's disease.

The Board has determined that an additional examination is required to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed peripheral neuropathy and whether it is related to his service-connected skin disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling appropriate examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot neuropathy, increased rating for right foot plantar fasciitis with tarsal neuropathy, initial rating for left foot tendinitis, fasciitis, and hallux valgus deformity, and TDIU are all pending.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus.