Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a signed VA examination report.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities has been rated at 10 percent since April 10, 2003. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current seizure disorder and that her peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and bilateral lower extremities was not incurred during active duty service. The claim for both conditions is therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling the Veteran for orthopedic and neurological examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected right leg disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus, did not render him unemployable prior to September 1, 2009. The RO denied his claim for a TDIU rating as he was found to be unemployable due to nonservice-connected factors such as arthritis and felony convictions.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a secondary relationship between any of the claimed conditions and the Veteran's active service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated after service connection for PTSD is determined.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, Crohn's disease, and tingling and numbness of the hands and feet due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the hands and enlarged prostate, finding no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The cervical spine disability was rated as 20% prior to September 17, 2002 and 40% thereafter. The wrist injury with ulnar neuropathy and right shoulder strain were both rated at 10%. No earlier effective date was granted for the service connection of right shoulder strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for DDD with herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbosacral spine and an initial compensable evaluation for neuropathy of the left lower extremity from April 4, 2006.

The Board denied service connection for an eye disability and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral onychomycosis do not warrant higher ratings. The decision also grants an effective date prior to February 5, 2003 for service connection of diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, lung condition, neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), right shoulder arthritis, left hand arthritis, bilateral wrist arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral hip arthritis have been denied. The denial is based on the lack of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating for hearing loss or tinnitus, and did not establish service connection for PTSD, schizophrenia, testicular cancer, prostate cancer, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, or Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's mononeuropathy of the right upper extremity is not considered to be caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The Board finds that the risk of a stroke after carotid endarterectomy was foreseeable and informed consent for the procedure was obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye disability resulting in vision loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current eye disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's headaches are not related to his service or any service-connected disability. His mandible fracture residuals do not warrant a compensable rating.