Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand twelve service connection claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and verifying the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents. The remaining fourteen issues were previously denied in a November 2014 rating decision and require issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities as secondary to meningioma of the brain is denied because there is no primary disability upon which secondary service connection may be granted.

The Veteran's surviving spouse was granted death pension with aid and attendance benefits starting from January 8, 2018, due to her income being below the maximum annual pension rate.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to in-service herbicide exposure at U-Tapao Air Force Base in Thailand. More information is needed to verify this exposure.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, finding no evidence of early onset peripheral neuropathy within one year after exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's statements were considered less credible than medical records indicating carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical spine degenerative joint disease.

The Board has determined that the reduction of ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and related neuropathies was not proper, and the original ratings are restored. The case is remanded to determine if a TDIU rating should be granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are granted at a 20 percent rating, but no greater. The appeal for TDIU is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy and sick sinus syndrome, finding that the conditions did not manifest within one year of separation from service or are otherwise unrelated to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right hand and carpal tunnel syndrome may be related to service, but needs further examination for a definitive opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD causally related to his active service. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is remanded due to missing medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, which is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the assignment of ratings for bilateral cold injury disability and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed as freestanding claims are not recognized by VA.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus, type II, effective October 15, 2014. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and exposure claims, but the VA has not located all of his VA treatment records. The case is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Vietnam.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding it related to herbicide exposure during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and denied service connection for right elbow disorder, diabetic neuropathy of upper and lower extremities. The issues of service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, and initial compensable evaluation for headaches are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left elbow disability, finding that there was no evidence of such condition during or within one year after service and concluding that any current left elbow disability is not related to service.