Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran received increased ratings for his peripheral neuropathy and had his claim to reopen a low back disability granted, though the final determination on this aspect remains unclear.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and notices, to address his claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorder, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, PTSD, and schizophrenia have been denied as there is no competent evidence of these conditions during or since his period of active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), was not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated by his military service. The Board also noted that he had other service-connected conditions such as diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions and seeks additional ratings, as well as service connection for various disabilities. The case is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for neuropathy of the left leg and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the Veteran's in-service blast injury and his current condition.

Service connection is denied for tinnitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran's right knee meniscal tear is currently rated 10 percent due to pain, flexion limited to no less than 105 degrees and extension to zero degrees.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an increased level of SMC based on the need for a higher level of A&A, as he does not have anatomical loss or use of any extremity that would warrant such a rate.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and records, as well as complete the development of his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) of the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity was characterized as moderate incomplete paralysis before April 28, 2010, warranting a 20 percent disability evaluation.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of peripheral neuropathy remains pending as additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including osteoarthritis, spondylosis, facet arthropathy, and sacrioilitis, was incurred in service. Service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy is not granted.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, a disability manifested by numbness and pain of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction have all been denied.,Further examination is needed to determine if service connection can be granted for erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to address the Veteran's complaints of tingling and numbness in his bilateral upper extremities, as well as their relationship to service or service-connected conditions.