Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to deciding the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as a result of herbicide exposure. The case is REMANDED to obtain verification of the Veteran's presence in Vietnam and to conduct a VA examination to evaluate the nature and etiology of his peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities have been shown to be productive of intermittent symptoms, but not moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his psychiatric, diabetes, neuropathy, hypertension, and scarring conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, and secondary service connection for various disabilities were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, neuropathy of the lower extremities (right and left), migraines, and nephrolithiasis have been granted service connection. The Veteran is assigned a 40 percent disability rating for his bilateral foot disorder, effective August 6, 2014.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at the highest schedular rating of 60 percent.,Ratings for neuropathy in the lower extremities prior to August 25, 2010 are not warranted. Ratings since that date meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's service connection for type II diabetes mellitus has been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand, which is a recognized exposure basis for service connection of certain diseases including diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions on causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's bilateral sensory neuropathy of the lower extremities and residuals of shrapnel wounds to the back, including sciatica are found to be related to his service in Korea.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied. The claims for DM, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure are also denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in the record.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have herbicide exposure during active service, and thus could not establish service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to such exposure.

The Board found that a chronic disability, claimed as left-sided neuropathy and manifested by chronic subjective neurological pain and numbness of the neck, left shoulder, and left lower extremity, did not have its onset during active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability. The appellant's contentions regarding dysthymia and other service-connected conditions were deemed insufficient to establish a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The lumbar spine disorder was rated at 40 percent, while the peripheral neuropathy of the left leg was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and diabetes mellitus is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. The claim of service connection for the residuals of a right great toe infection (claimed as gout) has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, including as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus (DM), have been denied due to a lack of current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type 2; hypertension; and right upper extremity neuropathy were denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is related to his exposure to ionizing radiation during active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.