Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and sleep apnea are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development, including a new VA examination and attempts to retrieve outstanding treatment records. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on direct service connection, service connection based on exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, and service connection due to an undiagnosed illness from Gulf War Service.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are currently rated at 10 percent each, as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for increased ratings have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and to obtain additional medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities, which he claims are related to exposure to herbicides in service or to his service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claim for higher SMC based on the need for aid and attendance has been denied as he does not meet the criteria for such benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and right upper extremity have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension and peripheral neuropathy claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and other conditions, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. Therefore, a TDIU rating is granted.

The Veteran's headaches are presumed to have been incurred in service. His bilateral knee disorders, cervical spine disorder and right leg sciatica are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his residuals of SFW, right neck with neuropathy, supraclavicular cutaneous nerve was granted and he is now rated at 40 percent effective May 13, 2010. His claim for an increased rating for his cervical spine disability remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional information regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and possible in-country service. Additionally, all pertinent VA treatment records must be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for residuals of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and associated conditions, but her original claim was denied in November 1994. The appeal is currently remanded to consider whether the 1994 denial is final and if additional evidence supports a non-finality determination.

The Veteran's left wrist condition has been rated at 30 percent, and his right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome is found to be service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to insufficient explanation in the March 2011 decision regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his in-service exposure to herbicides. The case is now before the Board for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and a TDIU has been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, updated treatment records, and clarification of the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.