Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by his active military service and no presumption of exposure to herbicides applied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities are granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an extraschedular rating for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is now pending with the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, claimed as due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as it pre-existed his diabetes and was not aggravated by the latter. The VA has remanded for further development regarding the impact of a cervical spine accident on his diabetic neuropathy.

The Veteran's death and potential service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, with peripheral neuropathy and renal failure as a result of herbicide exposure are being remanded due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following all types of substantially gainful occupation, but his nonservice-connected back disability limits his ability to work.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy and granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder effective April 2, 2010. The claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity neurologic symptoms, and depressive disorder have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the time period from September 30, 2002 to July 29, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for increased ratings on PTSD with a major depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities and determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of increased evaluation for postoperative hemangioblastoma tumor of the brain, service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for low back disability.

The Veteran's axonal peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities with residual motor and sensory loss is as likely as not permanently worsened by his service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, warranting service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and associated disorders, claiming exposure to herbicides during active duty. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining records of the U.S.S. Southerland's movements in Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred as a result of his active service, and he has also been granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities secondary to his diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include diabetic nephropathy, coronary artery disease, and various neuropathies, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is at least as likely as not related to his service, including exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran sustained additional disabilities to his right eye as a result of VA treatment due to events not reasonably foreseeable, and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is granted.