Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2003

The Board found no evidence of a chronic injury or illness in service that is related to the veteran's current peripheral neuropathy disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic cardiac disorder, including cardiomegaly and hypertensive heart disease. The veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected left ulnar neuropathy and right 5th metacarpal fracture have been rated as 10 percent each, effective from the date of claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for peripheral neuropathy, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The veteran's nonservice-connected pension benefits were terminated because he was shown to have maintained substantial gainful employment throughout the period of his receipt of pension.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy, which the veteran claims is due to entrapment or compression of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh during his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's foot drop disability is not related to his service-connected pes planus and denied entitlement to service connection. The veteran was granted special monthly compensation based on loss of use of both lower extremities, but denied a total rating for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The July 1997 RO decision denying service connection for peripheral neuropathy, to include as due to herbicide exposure, is final. The veteran has not submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ulnar neuropathy warrants a 40 percent rating, which is higher than the current 30 percent evaluation.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy and that his current left foot disability is not causally related to any incident of active service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left leg neuropathy and special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance. The veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for these benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy was not incurred during service and could not be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for his service-connected disabilities and TDIU is being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's right shoulder dislocation with traumatic arthritis and peripheral neuropathy, effective from May 23, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a shell fragment/shrapnel wound to the left hip and peripheral neuropathy, as well as his claim of exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found no evidence of a shell fragment or shrapnel wound to the left hip in service records and concluded that the arthritis present was not related to any such injury. For peripheral neuropathy, the Board noted it was first diagnosed many years after service and did not find any medical evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right foot disability, manifested by degenerative joint disease, severe pain, plantar fasciitis, neuritis, mild peripheral neuropathy, and limitation of motion, warrants a 30 percent evaluation.

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety/depression, is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected back condition. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities was granted with an effective date of February 5, 1998.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy, finding it may be presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). The veteran's condition is related to his military service and the development of diabetes.

The veteran meets the criteria for a 60 percent disability rating for his lower back disorder, including intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, finding no evidence of a nexus between his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and his current condition.