Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is found to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during service, and thus granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to further evaluate his claims for tinnitus, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cold injury to both feet, including sensory neuropathy, arthritis, cold sensitivity with Raynaud's phenomenon, recurrent onychomycosis, callus and corn formation from sensory neuropathy, is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and erectile dysfunction are related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disorder, cardiovascular disorder, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the underlying issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his combined disability rating is only 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a personal hearing before the Board. The issues of service connection for polyneuropathy associated with herbicide exposure, Graves disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder are pending.

The Veteran's SMC was reduced from the housebound rate to the 'K' rate for loss of use of a creative organ. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the reduction in his disability rating and need for an examination to determine if he needs regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is reasonably shown to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis. The issue of service connection for tinnitus remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder does not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently bedridden due to his nonservice-connected medical conditions. Therefore, he is not entitled to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board found no relationship between the Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy and essential tremor of the hands with his service, including exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and related conditions were denied. The RO found that the current rating of 40 percent adequately reflects the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen any of the Veteran's service connection claims, including for peripheral neuropathy of the right leg, left leg, elbow, neck, low back, shoulder disabilities, carpal tunnel syndrome, or heart disorder. The claimant's statements regarding abdominal pain are deemed not credible.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased evaluations, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome are also referred for adjudication.

The Board denied service connection for neuropathy of the feet and chronic infection of the feet, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise and supports the claim for service connection for primary lateral sclerosis (previously diagnosed as polyneuropathy), with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's right elbow disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and his right ulnar neuropathy is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the current ratings are adequate based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy did not have onset in service and was not caused or aggravated by his active military service, including exposure to Agent Orange.