Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues include service connection for multiple disabilities, including right knee, left knee, right shoulder, left shoulder, respiratory disorder, anemia, and edema of lower extremities.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to obtain outstanding private treatment records from the Veteran's identified physicians. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to it. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical evidence and an examination to determine if the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to service, including exposure to herbicides or his service-connected varicose veins.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to clarify the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, including as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, diabetic retinopathy, and coronary artery disease. The decision also addressed silicosis but did not provide a rating or effective date.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current eye disorder and whether it is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his claim for TDIU is warranted on a schedular basis.

The Veteran was granted a combined disability rating of 70 percent for service-connected disabilities effective August 25, 2005. The Board found that the Veteran met the criteria for TDIU as of this date and confirmed the effective date of January 17, 2006.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a higher combined rating on account of service-connected disabilities under 38 C.F.R. � 4.25, finding that his combined ratings were accurately calculated both in the June 1998 rating decision and in the February 2012 rating decision.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a right lower extremity polyneuropathy during service or since, and the Veteran's current condition is not related to his period of active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination assessing the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim to reopen the gunshot wound and neuropathy claim was granted, but he did not receive a specific rating assigned or effective date.

The Board finds that there is no current diagnosis of bilateral lower extremity or left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability was caused by a documented injury in service in 1960. The claim of service connection for type 2 diabetes will be developed in accordance with the provisions of the VA Adjudication Procedure Manual, M21-1MR, Part IV, subpart ii.2.C.10.o. Further development is needed to determine if there are other potential causes for the Veteran's current back disability.

The Veteran's paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration with peripheral neuropathy is presumed to have been incurred in active service due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for multisystem atrophy as secondary to the now service-connected paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration with peripheral neuropathy is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TDIU entitlement arose as of April 4, 2006, based on his service-connected disabilities and elevated combined disability evaluation. An effective date of August 4, 2006, but none earlier, is granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to August 31, 2011 and remains at that level. The right lower extremity neuropathy is rated at 10 percent.,Effective from August 31, 2011, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA neurological examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, but has found that there is no competent or credible evidence of a heart condition other than hypertension. The earlier effective date claim for bilateral hearing loss remains in appellate status.