Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuropathy is associated with his exposure to Agent Orange and/or associated with his service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease. The claim of entitlement to service connection for upper extremity neuropathy is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected fungus of the feet and hands, as well as any peripheral neuropathy. The examiner will also need to provide an opinion on whether any diagnosed peripheral neuropathy is as likely as not caused by an in-service disability or exposure to herbicides.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the lower left extremity from October 9, 2007 to April 27, 2010 and denied extraschedular ratings. The Veteran was also awarded SMC based on loss of use of his left foot and need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran sustained an additional disability of right femoral nerve neuropathy following a cardiac catheterization performed by VA in July 2009. The Board finds that this event was not reasonably foreseeable and that the treatment without informed consent qualifies for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on November 15, 2011 were reimbursed as the treatment was rendered in a medical emergency and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, bilateral shoulder, upper extremity neurological disabilities (neuropathy), and lower extremity neurological disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of chronic disability during or within one year after service separation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and bilateral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, and ischemic heart disease, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment due to his mental health issues and physical limitations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current frostbite residuals of the face, hands, or feet related to service. His skin disorders and peripheral neuropathy are not etiologically related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. The March 2016 VHA opinion concluded that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were neither singly, nor jointly with some other condition, the immediate or underlying cause of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to his mental incapacity, as evidenced by multiple hospitalizations and inability to manage personal finances.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran meets the schedular percentage requirements for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The Board grants TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and granted it on de novo review, finding that new evidence supports a relationship to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, PTSD, neuropathy, tinnitus, and secondary service-connected IHD have been granted.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities was granted separate evaluations of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 8614, for neuritis, which is rated with Diagnostic Code 8514.,Throughout the appeal period, a rating in excess of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of the currently assigned 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, and 10 percent each for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of additional evidence, including updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered in light of this new information.