Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, but granted service connection for ulnar neuropathy of the left elbow. The decision is mixed as it addresses both a direct service connection issue and an issue related to a pre-existing condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and thus grants a TDIU.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral cold injury of the feet, but denied both claims.,Service connection was not established for bilateral cold injury of the hands.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee condition, left knee condition, tinnitus, COPD/asthma, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the legs and arms, and loss of use of a creative organ. The denial is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or other presumptive exposure.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity were granted, but both conditions are currently rated at their maximum allowable levels.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have exposure to Agent Orange during his military service and therefore cannot establish a presumption of service connection for any conditions related to such exposure. The claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, skin disorder, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, heart disorder, and stomach disorder are all denied.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from November 4, 2004 to December 13, 2006 was denied as she did not meet the percentage requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy and his claims for hearing loss, arthritis of the lumbar spine, and coronary artery disease are denied as they are not related to service. The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy is dismissed.

The veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of the evidence.

The veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents inservice, has been reopened. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for coronary artery disease and erectile dysfunction, as well as his claim for service connection for hypertension. The veteran was granted a noncompensable rating for erectile dysfunction due to his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the lack of medical evidence and the need for further examination. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the additional information obtained.

The veteran's increased rating claims for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as erectile dysfunction, have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these issues from appeal.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be of such a nature or severity to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 10 percent prior to May 26, 2006 and increased to 20 percent from that date.,The current evaluations for the veteran's diabetes mellitus do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a connection between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development of the veteran's claims, including obtaining VA examinations to determine if he currently has peripheral neuropathy in his extremities, migraines related to service, and an inguinal hernia. The claims will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his attempt to reopen a claim for pes planus, have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these claims.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of hypertension and service connection for neurological disabilities have been denied. The RO will review the case and issue a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board found that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.