Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to lack of exposure to herbicides during service and because there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left arm peripheral neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus II.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an adequate opinion on the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with neuropathy did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and has not been shown to be causally related to his service-connected Crohn's ileitis. The claim for secondary service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues have therefore been dismissed.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was not incurred or aggravated in service, including any presumed herbicide exposure in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, dyslipidemia, and hemorrhoids due to lack of in-service diagnosis or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is not service connected as it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right orchiectomy.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is rated at 10%.,Cervical intervertebral disc syndrome was initially rated at 20%, and from September 27, 2013 to December 8, 2014, it was rated at 30%. From December 9, 2014, the rating is 30%.,Thoracolumbar spine DDD with lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome and thoracic disc herniation has been rated as 20% from December 9, 2014.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity was initially rated at 30%. From December 9, 2014, it is rated at 30%.,Right hip strain has a rating of 10%.,Status post bilateral inguinal hernia repair with scars have been rated as 10% since August 30, 2002 and remains at 10%.,Left knee scarring was initially rated at noncompensable (0%) prior to September 27, 2013. From September 27, 2013, it is rated as 20%

The Board is remanding the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The decision will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his fatal intracerebral hemorrhage, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether any currently diagnosed peripheral neuropathy is considered 'early onset' or 'delayed onset', if related to active duty service, and if caused by or aggravated by PTSD.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, coccyx fracture residuals, metabolic acidosis, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and right foot disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neurological disorder and its relationship to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the unavailability of service treatment records. The claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD is also being remanded as a Statement of the Case has not been issued.

The Veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation services has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a review of his current service-connected disabilities and employment status.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, as further development is needed to consider the combined functional effects of all service-connected conditions and their impact on employment.

The Board has determined that the reduction in disability rating for diabetic nephropathy from 30% to 0% was proper. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are pending.