Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and earlier effective dates for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted, with the assigned initial disability ratings of 10 percent each being retroactively effective from June 10, 2010.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy and proteinuria is currently rated at 100 percent since September 4, 2007.,Diabetic nephropathy has been rated at 80 percent since May 12, 2009.

The Veteran's service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities was restored, and his rating for DM, Type II with hypertension and erectile dysfunction was maintained at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including consideration of service connection claims and TDIU eligibility. The case will be returned to the Board after these issues are adjudicated.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for hypertension due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete record, requiring further development of evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicides, which may affect his claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus on which service connection was predicated was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus denying restoration of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's testicular cancer is not service-connected, but he has additional disability due to a delay in VA diagnosis and treatment resulting in polyneuropathy of the extremities.,The Veteran is granted compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for polyneuropathy of the extremities as a result of delayed VA diagnosis and treatment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, low back disability, right shoulder and arm disabilities, neck disability with left arm pain, and GERD. The decision found that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service or presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability and numbness of the left ring and little fingers are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings were granted, with a disability rating of 30 percent for lumbar strain with spondylosis effective March 31, 2010. The other issues remained unchanged.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as PTSD, all secondary to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremities, was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and his service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies, but granted noncompensable initial ratings for right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) effective November 8, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to his exposure to herbicides during service, specifically Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and therefore, the appellant is denied service-connected burial benefits. The issue of DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 remains pending.