Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as a low back disability, cannot be granted based on the evidence of record. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his service connection claims, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his respiratory disability and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and to ensure that all relevant records are obtained, including SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for HIV, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to the RO for further examination and readjudication of his TDIU claim due to incomplete opinions regarding the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and to determine whether any left upper extremity disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional service treatment records and in-service hospital records. The case will be adjudicated again after these records have been obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper left and right extremities do not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA's schedular guidelines.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to his service, specifically his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding her exposure to Agent Orange during active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral restless leg syndrome due to nerve damage, and arthritic thoracolumbar spine with severe degeneration are granted based on diabetes mellitus secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not service-connected as secondary to his diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's hypertension was not service-connected and is not service-connected as secondary to PTSD or diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's liver disease is not service-connected.

The Board has determined that an effective date of July 8, 1968 is warranted for the grant of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of hernia repair with right ilio-inguinal neuropathy was granted. The Board also found new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied low back disorder claim, but did not address service connection for arthritis, head trauma, or sciatica.

The Veteran's death was caused by complications from his stomach cancer, which manifested many years after service and is not attributable to service or herbicide exposure. His service-connected conditions did not materially contribute to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in the SSOC and a need for clarification on the nature and etiology of any current disability of the fingers of the right hand.

The Board denied all claims, including those related to service connection for various conditions and the reopening of a previously denied skin disability claim. The appellant's erectile dysfunction was not granted an initial compensable rating or earlier effective date.

The Board finds that the Veteran's neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to be incurred in or aggravated by such service. The VA examiner found that the symptoms were consistent with polyneuropathy and less likely than not secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all, e.g., a clothing allowance or fee dispute.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, specifically whether it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, neuropathy of the upper extremities, right eye disability, cervical spine disability, headaches, and acne vulgaris. The appeals are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.