Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The appeal is currently in remand status.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is granted, effective September 21, 2009. The criteria are met due to his service-connected disabilities including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities, and visual field defect.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disease, left knee disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the hands due to issues not being resolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension to include as secondary to service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome and depressive disorder was denied. The claim for a higher disability rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity was also denied.

The Veteran is unable to find or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, with the exception of October 12, 2010 when he received a 100% rating. The issue is now moot after that date.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD with depression, duodenal ulcer, coronary atherosclerosis, scar from bypass surgery, diabetes mellitus type II with impotence, and associated peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined effect of these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder bursitis with ulnar neuropathy, duodenal ulcer, tinnitus, right wrist sprain with small degenerative cyst, otitis media, and hemorrhoids, preclude him from securing and maintaining gainful employment. The Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, with no additional compensable complications. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for his diabetes or any of its associated conditions.

The Veteran is found to have been precluded from performing all appropriate forms of substantially gainful employment by reason of service-connected disability beginning on January 31, 2005, but not prior thereto.

The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is on the issue of entitlement to a higher initial rating for right ulnar neuropathy/carpal tunnel syndrome. The case has been remanded due to incomplete development and the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Guillain-Barré syndrome, polyneuropathy, insomnia, and chronic respiratory disorder were all denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or following his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including placing a copy of Memorandum for the Record: Herbicide use in Thailand during the Vietnam Era in the Veteran's claims file and reviewing all evidence. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the hands, feet, shoulder, and back is being remanded due to inadequate examination in May 2010. The case will be reviewed after additional development.

The Board has granted a waiver of recovery for the overpayment of pension debt, finding no fault on VA's part and that repayment would create undue hardship.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, claimed as cold injury residuals, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not service-connected, and the Board finds that it is less likely than not related to his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected diabetic neuropathy and Type II diabetes mellitus. The Board previously denied some of these claims based on a less than complete record, but the Veteran has requested a hearing to address these matters.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left knee disability and did not address the secondary service connection claim for peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure.