Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2006

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for neuropathy of both lower extremities, finding that the disability is no more than moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including PTSD and Parkinson's disease, due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support the occurrence of the in-service stressors or the presence of the diseases.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder but denied service connection for right ulnar neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide exposure. The claims for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction are pending and require further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Further examination and development are required.

The Board finds that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is related to his service-connected low back disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent evaluation for right ulnar neuropathy, effective from October 6, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for motor sensory polyneuropathy/plantar fasciitis, claimed as foot problems due to cold injury, finding no medical evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's peripheral neuropathy, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's lumbosacral spine status post fusion with spondylolisthesis, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative disc disease with secondary peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities is rated as 40 percent for limitation of motion of the lumbar spine, 40 percent for incomplete paralysis of the right lower extremity, and 40 percent for incomplete paralysis of the left lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for review of additional evidence submitted by the veteran, and will not make a decision on service connection until this is done.

The veteran's service-connected left eye disability was rated at 30 percent effective July 11, 2005. The evidence did not show that the corrected central visual acuity in the service-connected left eye was worse than 20/200 prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination by a VA neurologist. The appellant's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are pending.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the September 1971 rating decision that reduced the ratings for neuropathy of the right upper and lower extremities to noncompensable. The effective dates for the awards were determined, but service connection was denied for organic brain syndrome.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar spine disability warrants a rating of 60 percent prior to February 19, 2001 and a rating of 40 percent thereafter. The effective date for this decision is not specified as there was no specific request for an earlier effective date.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for demyelinating neuropathy of the right lower extremity, effective from November 1, 2001. The veteran's other claims remain unchanged.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant under 38 U.S.C. § 2101.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's degenerative joint disease and peripheral neuropathy/foot disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right ulnar neuropathy, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA schedule of ratings.