Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral legs as secondary to her service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA neurological examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incorrect address notification and the need for additional examinations related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no current disabilities related to the Veteran's in-service injuries and denied his service connection claims for left thumb disability, right knee disability, and right leg neuropathy.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy is related to active service, and thus grants service connection for residuals of a cold weather injury to the feet.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service, and to obtain VA treatment records. The claims for service connection are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right eye disability, including optic atrophy and optic neuropathy, is not related to his military service or any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's claimed right leg neuropathy was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Veteran's eye disability, including diabetic retinopathy, was not shown to be related to service or service-connected diabetes.,With resolution of doubt in the Veteran's favor, his peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is considered secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of verification regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Guam, and for obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. � 1151 for additional disabilities in his upper and lower extremities that developed after a bilateral hernia repair surgery at the VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Asheville, North Carolina on May 22, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, diabetes (claimed as borderline diabetes), neuropathy of the hands and upper extremities, neuropathy of the feet and lower extremities, and glaucoma were denied. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining deck logs from the USS De Haven and determining if routine dumping of Agent Orange over water off Vietnam was a practice prior to landing. The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy are inextricably intertwined with his claim for diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral leg disability and concluded that the Veteran's currently diagnosed conditions are not related to his period of active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, with peripheral neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy, as well as hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding of herbicide exposure or a link between these conditions and active duty.

The Veteran's polyneuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his service in Korea, and also because of the interrelated nature of the claims for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including eye/vision disability, skin disability, schizophrenia, cervical spine disability, chronic rhinitis, degenerative joint disease (including osteoarthritis of the spine), peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension. The decision is mixed as some issues have been granted while others remain pending.