Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's heart disease and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange. The claims are denied.

The Board found no evidence of current neuropathy of the left side of the body and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims at this time.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's left leg radiculopathy is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding all four issues, including the low back disability and peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected right ulnar neuropathy.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the initial increased ratings for low back strain with osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, rated as 20 percent disabling from October 22, 2004 to December 26, 2006, and as 40 percent disabling since December 27, 2006; and for radiculopathy with peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, rated as 10 percent disabling from October 22, 2004 to May 19, 2008, as 20 percent disabling from May 20, 2008 to July 7, 2011, and as 40 percent disabling since July 8, 2011.

The Veteran seeks service connection for peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities, as well as for an erectile dysfunction all of which he claims are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case is REMANDED due to conflicting VA medical opinions and the need to clarify the presence of diabetes prior to 2008.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling of hearings at the Huntington, West Virginia, RO.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and diabetic neuropathy of the left and right arms are currently rated at 20 percent each. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and diabetic manifestations (peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, erectile dysfunction), has been remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities are found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to be the cause of his current peripheral neuropathy, thus granting service connection for peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right elbow disability is denied as the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to July 2, 2010, and 50 percent thereafter. The claim for a higher rating for his ulnar nerve disability is also denied. The effective date for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, remains August 28, 2008.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus requires insulin, a restricted diet, and regulation of activities. The Board finds his disability picture meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent effective June 30, 2010. The initial ratings for polyneuropathy of the upper extremities and impairment of sphincter control are granted but not yet assigned effective dates. Erectile dysfunction remains noncompensable.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis, prostate cancer, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity due to new evidence submitted. The claims are granted.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy to his service-connected nephritic syndrome, or to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for various conditions secondary to herbicide exposure, including multiple myeloma. The appeal is now with the RO for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and issuing a statement of the case on the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's hypertension claim is also remanded for another examination.