Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting medical opinions regarding his diabetes, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension and a higher evaluation for his upper extremity neuropathies. He also seeks severance of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD).,The Board has determined that the issue of whether the severance of service connection for CAD was proper needs to be remanded due to additional development being required.,The Veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his depression and headaches, as well as TDIU. He also seeks an earlier effective date for his upper extremity neuropathies.,The Veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his right and left upper extremity neuropathies. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the severity of these conditions.,The Veteran is seeking a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, depression, and upper extremity neuropathies. Additional development is required for this issue as well.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus was denied, but the Board granted service connection for bilateral feet peripheral neuropathy as secondary to his diabetes mellitus. The decision also found that there is no basis for a higher initial rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to assess his diabetes mellitus Type 2 and its complications. The issue of TDIU will also be considered.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to conflicting medical records regarding the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The case will be readjudicated after a VA examination is conducted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities at 10 percent each, and no new or material evidence was presented to reopen previously denied hip and shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and treatment records. The claims for increased ratings for hypertension and diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is moot as he has been granted a 100% schedular rating and special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s). The appeal of the psychiatric disorder claims is also dismissed as they are encompassed within his now service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy have been rated based on their manifestations, but the appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Veteran asserts that he was not informed of potential complications from his right knee replacement surgery, which resulted in peroneal nerve injury and subsequent right foot drop sensory neuropathy. He claims this caused him to have difficulty driving, walking, and falling due to an unstable knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities was not incurred or aggravated by service, including as secondary to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). The evidence does not support a finding of service connection under any theory.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a pulmonary disorder presumed to be caused by Agent Orange exposure. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions, including hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Board denied service connection for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities have been granted, with a rating of 10 percent each.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, as well as his increased rating claims. The Veteran was granted an increased rating of 20% for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hypothyroidism, all secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities was not incurred or aggravated by service, as it did not manifest within one year after separation from service. The condition is unrelated to a service-connected disability.