Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for the conditions appealed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities related to service or noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure was improper, and restored service connection.

The Veteran's only service-connected disability, left leg peripheral neuropathy, does not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

Service connection for peripheral neuropathy and chloracne has been established based on the presumption of exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board or video conference hearing due to the Veteran's illness, and will handle any additional development as needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining private medical records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for higher evaluations for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities was denied as his conditions did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent from March 24, 2008 to February 16, 2012, or in excess of 30 percent and 20 percent respectively as of February 17, 2012.

The Veteran is seeking TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, but the case has been remanded for further examination and assessment of his employability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the March 2003 rating decision. The RO had considered the Veteran's diabetes mellitus as a basis for presumptive service connection due to Agent Orange exposure but did not consider it as secondary to his existing service-connected condition.

The Veteran's current right and left upper extremity neurological disorders, including neuropathy and neuritis, are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, right lower extremity, and right upper extremity. Service connection was denied for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's terminal colon cancer was not caused or contributed substantially to his death by any service-connected disability, including those presumed due to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left hand disabilities (carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy) are not related to service or his service-connected left elbow disability. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional action, including obtaining service treatment records and service personnel records. The issue of service connection for a recurrent lumbar spine disorder is also inextricably intertwined with the certified issue of peripheral neuropathy.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected PTSD, but not due to alcohol abuse. The VA psychiatrist concluded that PTSD did not cause or aggravate the Veteran's alcohol use.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's service record regarding his alleged exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's conditions warrant higher ratings under applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, hypertension, macular degeneration, stroke, and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities. The claim for service connection for a back disability was reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial in 1991. However, the Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral pes planus and right elbow disabilities. The temporary total rating claim may be impacted by evidence pertaining to the increased rating claim.