Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and clarification regarding his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the veteran's exposure to radiation and herbicide agents, as well as his service connection for ischemic optic neuropathy. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and osteoarthritis of multiple joints (including the knees) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The only post-service medical records are from many years after service.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and his claimed stressors have not been corroborated. The left knee disorder, liver disorder, and peripheral neuropathy are not service-connected as they were not shown to be related to active service.

The Board finds that the veteran's current peripheral neuropathy is not causally linked to his in-service frostbite, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of frostbite, including peripheral neuropathy, cold sensitization, arthritis, circulatory problems, fungal infection, and chronic night pain; a low back disorder; a left knee disorder; a left hip disorder; and a left hand disorder. The claim for skin cancer was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate disability ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, finding that assigning such ratings would constitute pyramiding as he already has the highest possible schedular rating for his service-connected multiple myeloma.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disease, including chloracne, and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The veteran's service records did not show any evidence of these conditions during his active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cold injury, rheumatoid and/or osteoarthritis, and peripheral neuropathy and vascular disease. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure and will now consider it on its merits.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The veteran's shell fragment residuals are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no basis to grant an increased rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome and patellofemoral syndromes were denied. The RO found that the symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to completion of its appellate review of the claims for initial disability ratings for various service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for valvular heart disease, finding it incurred during active service. The remaining issues of sleep apnea, neuropathy, disability of the central nervous system, and other conditions are remanded for further examination.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His service-connected conditions do not warrant an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a left-sided visual defect, to include optic neuropathy, that is related to active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and low back disability, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for various shell fragment wound disabilities, were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not reopen the claim for peripheral neuropathy, and that there was no direct or secondary service connection for the low back disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension on account of being in need of aid and attendance of another person due to his inability to perform activities of daily living such as feeding, dressing himself, keeping himself clean and presentable or tending to the wants of nature.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, finding that it is proximately due to his chemotherapy treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot fungus, a back disorder, and peripheral neuropathy. The evidence did not establish current disabilities.