Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's employability and the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions and determine if they render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service connection for headaches, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral leg neuropathy, a left ankle disability, hearing loss, or tinnitus due to his service. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities were granted service connection effective April 16, 2001.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his peripheral neuropathy, as well as the severity of any residual symptoms from his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities before a decision was made.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities and seeks evaluations in excess of the current ratings. The case is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the right arm, an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder disability, and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's irritable colon syndrome has been rated at the maximum schedular disability rating of 30 percent for the entire period on appeal, and his low back, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy disabilities have not resulted in a TDIU.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, cataracts, and erectile dysfunction. The Board has determined that additional development is needed in these matters.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that remand is necessary to verify potential herbicide exposure in Korea and obtain VA treatment records.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's VA treatment with valproic acid and his claimed disabilities, nor any fault on the part of VA. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and consideration of his claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected renal cell carcinoma is granted, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for all issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service connection for prostate cancer or peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicide agents, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the left side of the face has been rated at 10 percent since 2005. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they have not manifested severe, incomplete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete development and lack of exposure verification. The case is again remanded.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 50 percent, which does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that referral of the TDIU claim for extra-schedular consideration is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for peripheral neuropathy was withdrawn. The initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss were denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing acuity met the schedular criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to December 8, 2011 and from December 8, 2011 onwards. The issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's TMJ is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2; macular erythematous dermatitis; and polyneuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is set at July 7, 2009.