Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including thyroid disorder, numbness of upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, unspecified disorders, muscle atrophy, and esophageal disorder, were denied as the evidence did not support a link to active service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain from February 27, 2009 was denied. The appeal is also pending for total disability based upon individual unemployability.

The Board found no credible evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service in Vietnam or exposure to herbicides, thus denying service connection for heart disease and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy based on presumptive exposure. The claim was denied as direct service connection could not be established.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the appellant was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam, and whether he can establish service connection for his claimed conditions based on such exposure. The VA will conduct this development and then readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities are denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to service or any in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left hand sensory and motor neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities, considered individually and in combination, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The case will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neuropathy of the left upper extremity is not etiologically related to active duty service or a service-connected disease or injury, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's current right hand neuropathy is secondary to his service-connected second degree burn scar of the right arm.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities was rated at 40 percent prior to April 23, 2013, and from that date up until now. The rating is based on moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding it not related to service or Agent Orange exposure and secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's motion argued there was clear and unmistakable error in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to his military service, including by way of a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a right knee MCL tear, finding that his current condition is likely related to in-service injury. The hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy claims are denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right lateral femoral cutaneous nerve were remanded multiple times. The AMC determined that an extra-schedular rating was not warranted, and the RO assigned initial 10 percent and 20 percent ratings effective November 19, 2008 and September 28, 2010 respectively.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings on her interstitial cystitis, lumbosacral strain, left and right lower extremity polyneuropathy is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation is currently 80 percent, which satisfies the criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the lower extremities is being remanded due to current deficits in the record, including a lack of a VA examination and incomplete treatment records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for a nerve disorder (peripheral neuropathy) and chloracne, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right ulnar neuropathy warrants a 30 percent disability rating since October 1, 2009.