Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2004

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for peroneal motor and sensory peripheral neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected low back disability, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to his degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy, including meralgia paresthetica, is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his service connection and higher ratings for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy. The RO has requested additional medical records to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy, finding no current evidence of such condition. The Board concluded that the veteran did not have peripheral neuropathy related to his Vietnam service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran has peripheral neuropathy and whether it is related to service, specifically as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type 1 as a result of exposure to herbicides and neuropathy of the feet and spine and degenerative arthritis of the entire spine.

The veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The left ear hearing loss remains at a 10% disability rating. Service connection for neuropathy is granted.

The Board denied both claims for service connection, finding no evidence of a chronic low back disorder or neuropathy in service that could be linked to current conditions.

The veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus and related conditions, claiming exposure to herbicides during his temporary duty assignment in Vietnam. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the alleged TAD in Vietnam.

The veteran is entitled to an effective date of March 5, 1996 for the grant of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for his disabilities resulting from a VA surgery in 1996.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus due to a need for further development and examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, hypertension, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and nephrolithiasis. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board found that the veteran did not develop additional disability of the left fifth finger or that any preexisting disease or injury was aggravated by VA medical treatment. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a disorder of the left fifth finger is denied.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for scarring on the left foot in addition to the current 30 percent rating for the residuals of a shrapnel wound to the left foot with amputation of the third and fourth toes, acquired deformity, neuropathy, retained metallic fragments, and degenerative arthritis. The combined evaluation does not exceed the maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, finding that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy of both feet and bilateral pes planus are either directly related to service or have been aggravated by pre-existing conditions, warranting a grant of service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further action, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and verifying stressors. The case will be returned to the Board after completion of these actions.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicides, finding that there was no evidence of such condition during or within one year after service and no link between current symptoms and Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with adequate notice under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.