Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and its associated manifestations.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities was granted a 40 percent rating effective January 24, 2012. Effective June 15, 2009, he is also entitled to an increased TDIU rating and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to the RO due to his request for a Board video conference hearing.

The Board finds that the evidence is relatively equally balanced in terms of whether the Veteran has peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities related to his military service, and will resolve this reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is granted.

The Veteran's additional wrist disabilities, including CTS and osteoarthritis, are not etiologically related to his service. His left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease is linked to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and ASHD with left bundle branch block and an implanted demand pacemaker, both presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is also presumed to be related to his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities has been granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent each, effective February 11, 2014.

The Board has determined that the claims for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, actinic keratosis, and enlarged prostate are intertwined with the diabetes mellitus type 2 claim. The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine whether he has been granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, and consequently, his claims for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, actinic keratosis, and enlarged prostate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for retinopathy and an increased evaluation for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran had current diagnoses of these conditions, or that they were related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus presumed due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's service records do not show any treatment or diagnosis related to these conditions during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for defective right ear hearing has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to assess the current severity of his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with peripheral polyneuropathy of the left foot, including any residual neuropathy in the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of all evidence. The issues include cervical spine disability, fibromyalgia, left knee arthralgias, cervical neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and thoracic outlet syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA outpatient records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and an initial compensable evaluation for right hand neuropathy are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right upper thigh peripheral neuropathy is causally related to trauma in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were rated at 20 percent effective September 30, 2011.,PTSD was rated at 50 percent effective September 30, 2011.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, is found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.