Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The appeal is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records and for further examination.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, thus denying the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathies secondary to such exposure.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy and found that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's diagnosed condition is related to military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes, prevent him from engaging in any type of substantially gainful employment consistent with his skills, education, and training.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his diabetes mellitus, type II, as well as the issues related to TDIU, special monthly compensation at the housebound rate, and DEA under Chapter 35 are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is also seeking an effective date prior to July 16, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service, and he has been diagnosed as suffering from this condition. The other claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions, and they are not shown to be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current right ulnar neuropathy is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder, left upper arm, and left ulnar neuropathy disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities has been rated at 20 percent since August 13, 2007. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of malaria, and peripheral nerve damage of the lower extremities were granted. The Veteran was also assigned a 20 percent disability rating for his thoracolumbar strain effective September 10, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, back disability, upper and lower extremity disorders, loss of balance, memory loss, stroke residuals, abdominal aortic aneurysm, cancer of the face (basal cell carcinoma), and duodenal or pancreatic tumor. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the nature and severity of his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran seeks service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both legs, which he believes is due to his military service. The case is being remanded for additional development and expert medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and left leg circulatory and vascular problems, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or a service-connected condition.,The April 1993 rating decision was not found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The Veteran's arguments regarding the lack of consideration of certain evidence were not sufficient to establish clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his combined disability rating is less than 70% and he has not been found unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to these disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to flattened affect, panic attacks, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The Veteran's hypertension, sleep apnea, and TBI are etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his military personnel records and verifying any exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy. The issues include service connection for this condition based on presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The claims will be remanded to allow for this development.