Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantial gainful employment, effective May 11, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that his current disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral upper and lower extremity sensorimotor polyneuropathy is related to his acknowledged in-service exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are all found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has granted the Veteran a 70% rating for PTSD as of June 19, 2009.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, chronic headaches, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left hip disorder, and left hip scar have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the cervical spine disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses of bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, claiming these conditions are related to his military service in Vietnam where Agent Orange was used. The claims will be remanded to obtain relevant treatment records from the period of active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral vascular disease of both upper extremities is denied as there is no evidence of this condition during or after service. The claim for an increased rating for peripheral vascular disease of the left lower extremity remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his claims of increased ratings for diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, as well as service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, do not render him unemployable as he is currently employed in substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hepatitis C, low back disability, peripheral neuropathy, ischemic heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that new evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for hepatitis C, and that there was no credible evidence linking these disabilities to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's substantive appeal was timely filed regarding his service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and authorize private medical records, as well as schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from an outside clinic. The claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as information about the Veteran's time at Camp Lejeune. The claims will be readjudicated based on all received evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy, left ear hearing loss, increased ratings for right upper extremity radiculopathy and PTSD, as well as compensable ratings for tension headaches and right ear hearing loss due to procedural reasons.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for neuropathy of the right lower extremity due to a December 1990 low back surgery was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted. The Veteran's sciatic nerve neuropathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 8720 (sciatic nerve neuralgia).

The Veteran's diabetes and peripheral neuropathy were evaluated, with the Board finding that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 90 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. The VA examiner found that his service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable at this time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current poliomyelitis residuals (lower extremity polyneuropathy) were incurred in service and granted service connection for these conditions.