Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is on the issue of entitlement to a higher initial rating for right ulnar neuropathy/carpal tunnel syndrome. The case has been remanded due to incomplete development and the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Guillain-Barré syndrome, polyneuropathy, insomnia, and chronic respiratory disorder were all denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or following his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including placing a copy of Memorandum for the Record: Herbicide use in Thailand during the Vietnam Era in the Veteran's claims file and reviewing all evidence. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the hands, feet, shoulder, and back is being remanded due to inadequate examination in May 2010. The case will be reviewed after additional development.

The Board has granted a waiver of recovery for the overpayment of pension debt, finding no fault on VA's part and that repayment would create undue hardship.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, claimed as cold injury residuals, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not service-connected, and the Board finds that it is less likely than not related to his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected diabetic neuropathy and Type II diabetes mellitus. The Board previously denied some of these claims based on a less than complete record, but the Veteran has requested a hearing to address these matters.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left knee disability and did not address the secondary service connection claim for peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected right hand neuropathy with scarring was denied as the evidence did not support a greater than 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities is being remanded as additional medical inquiry is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is secondary to his service-connected low back disability, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease and peripheral neuropathy, as well as his TDIU claim, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a direct link between his claimed conditions and his military service or exposure to herbicides. The nerve damage is attributed to chemotherapy, not the service-connected condition.

The VA medical opinion determined that the cause of the Veteran's death (pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure, and emphysema) was not caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities. The examiner also found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder as a result of service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of left ear hearing loss due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues have been addressed, and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are evaluated appropriately.

The Veteran's claims have been dismissed due to the death of the claimant.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including issuance of a Statement of the Case and VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, as well as his left and right lower extremities, is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.