Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Veteran's tinnitus was denied as the evidence did not show a nexus between her current condition and service.,Service connection for peroneal mononeuropathy of the RLE and LLE was denied due to lack of in-service exposure or treatment, and because the onset of symptoms is not within one year after separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities and knees. The decision found that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and concluded that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet and headaches, finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood these conditions are related to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee strain and finds that new evidence supports this claim.,The Veteran is granted service connection for his right knee strain, with no specific rating assigned at this time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for DM, HTN, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and a liver condition, all presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence did not show any in-service disease or injury that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neurological manifestations of the bilateral upper extremities, including whether they are related to his service-connected conditions or secondary to them.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, and for a TDIU. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service or presumed Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities is currently rated at 20 percent, which represents moderate incomplete paralysis. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the feet is not related to his military service, was not incurred in military service, nor is it caused or aggravated by his other service-connected feet disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were granted effective November 5, 2008.

The Veteran's neck disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service.,The Veteran's polyneuropathy of the upper extremities is not service-connected as there is no link between his current condition and his military service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicides during service and thus could not establish presumptive service connection for his conditions. The evidence was not in equipoise on whether any current diagnoses were related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been rated at 20 percent since April 9, 2013. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board dismissed the claim of CUE in the October 30, 1997 rating decision denying service connection for the back disability. The Veteran's earlier effective date and increased rating claims for sciatic neuropathy were denied as there was no clear evidence that the disabilities were related to his service-connected back disability.

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

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are being remanded to allow for additional development and consideration.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective November 5, 2008. The initial disability rating for diabetic nephropathy was increased to 60 percent in February 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, heart disability, and shoulder disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active service or within one year following separation.,There was no indication any of the listed diagnoses (cervical spine, upper extremities, heart, and shoulders) were etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's left upper extremity long thoracic neuropathy and left shoulder status post arthroscopic labral debridement with residual loss of motion have been evaluated at the 20% level since July 20, 2012. The Board denied increased evaluations for both conditions.