Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the claimed conditions or that they are related to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal of all claims, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's current diagnosed peripheral neuropathy of the extremities is not considered to be related to his military service, including presumed in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and updating the record with any new evidence. The issues include increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as a claim for TDIU.

The Board finds that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is service-connected due to in-service exposure to non-ionizing radiation, which is not considered ionizing radiation exposure under VA regulations. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, residuals of nose fracture, bilateral knee disorder, and persistent strep throat disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction were denied as they are not related to service or due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in the matters of ratings for peripheral neuropathies of both upper and lower extremities, thus dismissing the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicides in Thailand and whether he had a layover in Vietnam enroute from San Francisco.

The Veteran's hypertension, cardiomyopathy, neuropathy, and myopia were not shown in service or related to a service-connected disability. The Board denied these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, lumbar strain, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, hypertension, and sciatic radiculopathy, require him to use a wheelchair for mobility. As such, he is eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased rating for right foot peripheral neuropathy, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider this matter further.

The Board found that the Veteran's lower back disability did not begin during or as a result of his military service, and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, and thus denied his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and Tricare medical records, to determine the etiology of his peripheral neuropathy and whether it is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and a heart disability. The appeal is not about exposure to herbicides or other presumptive conditions.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding no evidence of such conditions within one year following the Veteran's separation from active duty in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, associated peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining outstanding VA outpatient records and scheduling a new examination.