Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, while his other conditions have not been established as being due to or a result of service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the claims file to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including lung cancer with scarring, COPD, chronic bronchitis, peripheral neuropathy of both feet, and polycythemia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure to substantially comply with prior remand directives regarding the cause of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. His erectile dysfunction is also related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for his right knee condition, effective from June 4, 2015. He remains rated at 10 percent for the painful limited range of motion and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is granted due to the Board finding that his additional disability was caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA medical personnel during hernia surgery performed in January 2007.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition, neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) have been denied. The claim for service connection for a right foot condition remains pending as it was not adjudicated by the Board.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 30 percent, and the claim for an increased evaluation remains denied.,Service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has not been established as they are not related to service or herbicide exposure.,PTSD was diagnosed but not linked to service. The Veteran's current psychiatric disability is attributed to alcohol abuse, which may be considered a secondary condition.,The claim for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right and left lower extremity acute peripheral neuropathies have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence showing that his disability has met or more nearly approximated the criteria for a rating in excess of those currently assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is presumed to have been incurred as a result of exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected right foot disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee focal neuropathy is currently rated at 10 percent, and his right knee instability and medial meniscus tear residuals are each rated at 10 percent. The Veteran has not been granted higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current diagnosis of cold injury residuals, including peripheral neuropathy, are related to his active service. As such, the criteria for entitlement to service connection have been met and the Veteran's claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining information about his service in Korea and the 7th Ordnance Company.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot neuropathy is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disabilities are referred to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran seeks payment or reimbursement for medical expenses incurred at a non-VA hospital on June 17, 2012. The Board has determined that the case should be remanded to determine if the services provided were of such a nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health and whether VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left arm neuropathy is not related to service or his service-connected diabetes, and thus cannot be granted service connection.