Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2003

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left feet are being remanded to allow for additional development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, skin condition, and heart condition due to lack of current medical evidence supporting these conditions.

The veteran's right ankle fracture was not incurred in service and is not secondary to a service-connected disability. His right shoulder, knee, and hand disabilities do not warrant higher ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the appellant's claims due to a need for additional notification and development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The claims include service connection for PTSD, hypertension, ulnar neuropathy, gastrointestinal disorder, and total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability.

The Board finds that the veteran's current peripheral neuropathy in his upper and lower extremities is related to inservice cold injury, granting service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including PTSD, hearing loss, upper respiratory disorders, tonsillitis, hemorrhoids, low back injury, frostbite, ingrown toenails, numbness of hands, fracture of left thumb, right shoulder dislocation, left elbow disability, arthritis of the back and shoulders, hyperopia and presbyopia, chloracne (claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure), or acute/subacute peripheral neuropathy (claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure).

The Board has determined that the veteran's mononeuropathy and atrophy of the right lower extremity is service-connected, with the benefit of doubt being given to the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, tinea versicolor, soft tissue sarcoma, porphyria cutanea, and peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 30 percent for each foot, effective from June 13, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and skin disability, finding no evidence of such conditions during or after active duty service.

The veteran's osteomyelitis of the left calcaneus and scar of the plantar surface of the left foot are currently rated at their highest possible evaluations, with no further increase in evaluation for these conditions. The limitation of motion of the left ankle is also evaluated at its maximum.

The veteran's service connection claims for neuropathy and cystic and comedonal acne were granted. The claim for a post-operative right inguinal hernia was denied, but the veteran received a compensable rating for his status-post right orchiectomy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, rib disability, and head disability. The claims for chronic foot infection, peripheral neuropathy, neck disability, and shoulder disability were reopened based on new evidence, but no service-connected disabilities are currently found.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chloracne or acneform disease and peripheral neuropathy are related to his presumed exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's current peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet is at least as likely as not related to his inservice cold exposure, thus granting service connection for cold injury residuals of the hands and feet.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the veteran's service and his current peripheral neuropathy, thus denying the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy is service-connected due to exposure to chemical herbicides during his tour of duty in Southeast Asia.

The veteran is granted service connection for chronic peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange). Service connection is denied for acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy and axonal neuropathy as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not have a left-sided visual defect, to include optic neuropathy, that is related to active service.