Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure during service. The claims for increased rating and service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that he was not exposed to herbicide agents during service and did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertensive vascular disease, and diabetic neuropathy, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to ensure compliance with the Court's recent decision in Correia v. McDonald, and to obtain a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his neurological impairment of the lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disability and sensory neuropathy of the right upper extremity are not service-connected, as there is no evidence showing a current separate left hip disability or aggravation of an already service-connected condition. The claim for secondary service connection to his service-connected lumbar disc disease was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back disability and peripheral neuropathy, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since December 30, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing due to inadequate notice of the time and place of the previously scheduled hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found no evidence of current diabetes mellitus and denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and right lower extremity as secondary to diabetes. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy was not related to Agent Orange exposure, and there is insufficient evidence linking it to diabetes.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported medical expenses for 2004 and 2005 were not sufficient to reduce his countable income below the maximum annual pension rate, thus denying his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection for any of the claimed conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied as there was no evidence to support a finding of direct service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for decreased kidney function was denied as there was no evidence to support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia was denied as there was no evidence to support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction) was denied as there was no evidence to support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as there was no evidence to support a finding of direct service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastrointestinal disability (GERD) was denied as there was no evidence to support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sixth cranial nerve palsy was denied as the evidence did not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy was denied as there was no evidence to support a finding of direct service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy was denied as there was no evidence to support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD is remanded. The timeliness of his appeals regarding joint and muscular pain, DDD of the lumbar spine, lumbar radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is also remanded.

The Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities at any time relevant to his claim, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, most notably PTSD, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board found that the Veteran's neuropathy of both feet was not related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that it is related to his service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease, right and left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and scar of the face and forehead as they are not related to his military service.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral ulnar neuropathy and atrophy, specifically whether it is related to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for swelling joints, sinusitis, bilateral pes planus, and sleep apnea. The remaining service connection issues are remanded for further development.