Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy and Diabetes Mellitus, Type II.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new examination. The issue will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be presumed due to a disease associated with active military service. The Board also found no evidence that the condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected rheumatic heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with a noncompensable rating assigned for sinusitis effective May 15, 2006. The Veteran was also granted service connection for various disabilities including radiculopathy of the upper extremities, right wrist disability, left knee disability, right arm disability, right knee disability, sciatic nerve disability, and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination for his claimed neuropathy. The TDIU claim will also be readjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing and issuance of a statement of the case for certain claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability rating and service connection have been withdrawn.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss, effective June 7, 2004. The Veteran's tinnitus was also rated at 10 percent and the effective date assigned is also June 7, 2004.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these claims.

The Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected, as it did not occur during his active duty or National Guard service. His bilateral sciatica and peripheral neuropathy are secondary to his low back disability.,His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are presumed due to exposure to noise from artillery fire during service.

The Veteran's PTSD and skin disorder were granted initial ratings of 30 percent and 30 percent, respectively. Service connection for bilateral UE mono-neuropathy and weakness/fatigue/joint/muscle pain symptoms was also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including a VA examination to address whether his diabetes mellitus, neuropathy, or hypertension require regulation of activities. The issues remain on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic multisymptom illness and has determined that an effective date earlier than March 2, 2012, is warranted for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his chronic multisymptom illness was found to be plausible due to the evidence showing a relationship between the condition and his military service. For the left lower extremity neuropathy, the Board determined that an effective date earlier than March 2, 2012, is warranted as the Veteran's claim can be construed as seeking a separate compensable disability rating for the neurologic manifestations of his service-connected low back strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and disorders manifested by pain in the groin and buttocks. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right foot injury and headaches, finding that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions are not service connected as they do not have a direct relationship to his military service. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and the current diagnoses were not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's low back disability, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, skin cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, glaucoma, and cataracts are all found to be related to his service due to radiation exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and diabetes mellitus, type II, were granted effective June 5, 2005.,Both conditions are considered to be secondary to his service-connected low back disorder.

The Veteran's combined rating is 50 percent, which does not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU. The Board finds that he does not have factors warranting referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.