Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities, and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for a back condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral upper extremity neurological disability, to include peripheral neuropathy, was denied as there is no evidence of such condition during or within one year after service. The Board found that the current neurological disability is not related to service, including any in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, require additional development due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and issuance of a statement of the case on all issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all denied as there is no credible evidence to support presumptive exposure to herbicide agents during his naval service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable during the specified period.

The Board finds that the disability attributable to diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities for rating purposes includes polyradiculopathy involving the left thoracic and entire lumbar and S1 roots, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for residual scars from cellulitis of the feet, but denied service connection for residuals other than scars.

The Veteran's combined rating is 80 percent, and the VA specialist determined that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion from a VA TDIU examiner. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are considered in determining whether they make him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication due to a need for a supplemental VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's polyneuropathy.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and the issues of initial ratings for various service-connected conditions are dismissed due to withdrawal requests.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and neuropathy of the left upper extremity are not related to service. Hypertensive vascular disease is also denied as it did not become manifest within one year after service separation.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper and lower extremities as the evidence did not establish a nexus to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicides while stationed in Korea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and defective hearing of the right ear. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his period of service and have denied all claims for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a right leg disorder during service and concluded that the current condition is not related to service, including verified ACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's reports of numbness and pain during service are to be considered in any new opinion.