Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2015

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the initial rating for left hip arthritis and the increased rating for left hip neuropathy. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, headaches, sleep apnea, carpal tunnel syndromes, hemiplegia, polyneuropathy, and cerebrovascular disease. The decision is based on a lack of current disability as defined by VA standards.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has ordered a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and service connection for erectile dysfunction. The case is being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities result in loss of use of one or both hands, which could potentially trigger entitlement to higher SMC rates. The current evidence does not meet the criteria for SMC(m) or SMC(n).

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral cataracts, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, peripheral vascular disease of the left and right lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected neurological disorder of the right upper extremity, including carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve neuropathy. The Veteran testified that she sometimes feels better without her right hand.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including whether they are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep difficulties (nightmares) has been dismissed as the claim was resolved in a September 2014 rating decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a combined effects medical examination and opinion. The current evidence does not support his claim of unemployability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of service connection for a right wrist disability, lumbar spine disability, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and right knee patellofemoral chondromalacia with degenerative findings.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, liver disease, neuropathy, and skin cancer. The appeal is mixed as some issues are granted while others are denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for an initial increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity and left lower extremity.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 12, 2012, for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, status post total knee arthroplasty.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 60 percent prior to September 30, 2013, and in excess of 30 percent from January 17, 2014, for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction and stenting.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for GERD.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD or coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder strain with right upper extremity neuropathy was aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, claimed as due to herbicide exposure is denied because there is no evidence of in-service herbicide exposure and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities does not result in loss of use of both feet, as he can still walk with assistance and perform some activities without significant impairment.

The Veteran's original claims for service connection were not received by VA prior to March 1, 2010. The effective date for the grants of service connection for PTSD; cervical spondylosis with neck myelopathy/radiculopathy; left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy/radiculopathy; scar, residuals, shrapnel fragment wound, neck; linear scar inferior to the left patella; and curvilinear left medial knee scar disabilities is denied.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for right foot drop is granted as March 1, 2010. The appeal period had not ended when the information concerning right foot drop compensation was specifically raised by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to provide proper notice and scheduling for a travel board hearing. The Veteran's current address needs to be verified, and he should be notified of his right to request a new hearing if desired.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was evaluated under Diagnostic Code 5276, and the Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as he had no pronounced symptomatology. The Veteran also had other conditions such as calcaneas bursitis (left foot), gout, and alcoholic peripheral neuropathy.