Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2002

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for each foot, effective January 12, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis and peripheral neuropathy, as well as an increased evaluation for his right iliac crest fracture. The decision also noted that the veteran's claim of metal staples in his chest was referred to the RO.

The veteran's PTSD is service connected, and his peripheral neuropathy is also granted as secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board dismissed all eight issues due to the veteran's failure to appeal them.

The veteran is granted service connection for irritable colon condition with gastroesophageal reflux starting from May 17, 1991. The effective date of the grant of a 30 percent disability rating for this condition is set at May 17, 1991.

The veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability is denied as the effective date cannot be earlier than May 8, 1997 due to the one-year rule and his service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for acute or subacute peripheral neuropathy and chloracne as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, finding no clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The evidence did not establish a link between the veteran's current condition and his military service or any exposure to herbicides.

The Board finds that the veteran's residuals of a right shoulder injury are properly rated at a 30 percent rating, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran meets the criteria for a 60 percent disability rating for her lower back disorder, which includes intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds to both his left hand and leg, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than the current 30 percent and 10 percent evaluations.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied. The Board found that the left ankle disability did not warrant a higher rating, and there was no evidence of a left leg disorder or spine/psychiatric disorders related to service.

The Board denied both claims: entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for discoid lupus erythematosus and service connection for the residuals of a right ankle injury. The veteran's claim for these conditions was not supported by sufficient evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's SLE with axonal neuropathy and neurogenic bowel and bladder was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board found that the veteran's disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and granted increased ratings of 20 percent for both the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with sciatic neuropathy, and his residuals of a right medial malleolus fracture with internal fixation.

The Board found that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not related to his active service, including herbicide exposure. The skin disorder was also not connected to service.

The veteran's claimed peripheral neuropathy and squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth were not shown to be related to service, including exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The claims are denied.

The Board found no service connection for the claimed conditions and denied reopening of claims for carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.