Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, including from Vet Center treatment. A VA examination is also needed to assess his left foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for travel payments was denied as he did not apply within the required 30-day period after completing his travel, despite meeting eligibility criteria due to an increased disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of reopening his service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to herbicide exposure due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for prostate cancer was reopened and granted due to in-service herbicide exposure. Claims for skin condition, kidney condition, neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, and heart condition are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to failure to notify the appellant of a previously scheduled videoconference hearing.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, ischemic heart disease, left foot amputation, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, and erectile dysfunction are all granted due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service in Thailand.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the neck, which is considered secondary to the Veteran's low back condition and cervical spine condition. The remaining issues on appeal are deferred pending further development.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity edema was denied, as there is no evidence that the condition is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities was granted with a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, left upper extremity mononeuropathy and myositis ossificans, preexisted service and were not aggravated by service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome, L5-S1, was granted an initial rating of 60 percent from February 16, 1995 to July 20, 2004. Beginning July 21, 2004, the Veteran is entitled to a separate 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with intervertebral disc syndrome and an initial rating of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to inadequate examination and lack of etiological opinion. The dental claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and its associated complications, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and/or PTSD), have not been found to be related to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's headaches are considered a residual of his TBI, and the Board finds that service connection is warranted for this condition.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, and his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's neuropathy/radiculopathy of the lower extremities is not causally or etiologically due to service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability, including his lumbar strain.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and rheumatoid arthritis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during service. The Veteran's diabetes was attributed to prednisone use rather than Agent Orange exposure.