Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the ROIC for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not file a timely and adequate substantive appeal for several of his claims, including those related to service connection for chloracne and peripheral neuropathy with pain and fatigue as a result of herbicide exposure. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking the current disability to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and consideration of the veteran's claim for service connection for a lower extremity disorder, claimed as weakness and peripheral neuropathy, to include as due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange).

The Board granted service connection for a nerve disorder of the right lower extremity, specifically laceration and neuropathy involving the sural nerve. The veteran's disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes was granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent. Separate ratings of 10 percent each were assigned for peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, but denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left wrist.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, an immunodeficiency syndrome with chronic upper respiratory infections, sinusitis and bronchitis, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, post-traumatic stress disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The reasons were that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the veteran's service or radiation exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for any of his claimed conditions, including hypertension, back injury residuals, intestinal problems, and frostbite (claimed as peripheral neuropathy).

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not service connected, with no exposure to herbicide agents and no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus and related conditions, including hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, rectal abscess, retinopathy, and renal insufficiency. The claim will be remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, or prostate cancer that is related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of any connection between the appellant's current conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a lack of new and material evidence in reopening her sacroiliac instability claim, failure to meet schedular criteria for increased ratings, and failure to show that she suffered an additional disability as the result of VA treatment.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his herniated nucleus pulposus, L4-L5, and neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The initial evaluation for herniated nucleus pulposus is now 60 percent, effective prior to September 23, 2002, and 40 percent from that date onwards. The initial evaluation for neuropathy remains at 10 percent.

The VA denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that the veteran's condition required daily oral hypoglycemic medication and a restricted diet without insulin or activity restrictions.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, and his cervical spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or establish a causal link between service and current symptoms.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus with a history of weak feet, finding that the disability was manifested by severe bilateral pes planus with marked deformity.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected ganglion cyst residuals, but granted service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand as secondary to the service-connected condition.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to new and material evidence submitted, but no rating or effective date is assigned as the issue remains pending.