Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2016

The Veteran's left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted a rating of 20 percent each, the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 8514 for mild incomplete paralysis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, a respiratory disability, and cardiovascular disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral elbow disability did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter, and is not related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to his active service, with no evidence of early onset or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his eligibility for an automobile allowance or specially adapted equipment, including a VA examination to determine if he has loss of use of one or both feet or hands.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease is granted. Service connection for residuals of head injury (TBI) and disability of the cervical spine are also granted, as well as service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD or due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy claims remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's post-surgical bilateral hernia disability and ilioinguinal neuropathy with complex regional pain syndrome are currently rated at 10 percent each, effective from June 10, 2014. The scars due to the hernia surgery have also been rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities were assigned, but a remand is required due to insufficient clinical findings and missing treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disorder (due to exposure to Agent Orange), acute myositis of the quadriceps, peripheral neuropathy, heart disorder, hemorrhage of blood vessels in the brain, cerebral vascular accident/TIA, and bilateral eye disorder have been denied. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for new examinations to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and its complications, as well as his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating of 90% from May 1, 2008, meets the criteria for a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of his bilateral lower extremities is presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The case is being remanded for a new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a determination on the Veteran's claims for service connection for his back disability and bilateral lower extremity disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thyroid cancer is related to military service, including as due to Agent Orange exposure. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence received since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurological disorder, to include Guillain-Barré syndrome, was denied as her claimed condition is not causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.