Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a neuromuscular disability, finding no evidence of such disability during or within one year after service. The Board also found no presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection or higher ratings for any of his claimed conditions. The appeals are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral leg disability, including peripheral neuropathy, and arthritis of ankles and hips. The RO previously denied these claims in January 2004.

The Board found that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy was not related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of both legs, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on current clinical findings.

The RO denied increased ratings for the appellant's right thumb and hypersensitive scar conditions, as well as service connection for depression, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand disorders all claimed as secondary to her service-connected right thumb disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lower extremity conditions and glaucoma, finding no medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty. The claim for an increased rating for Schamberg's disease with seborrheic keratosis was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II with peripheral neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy, hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The denial is based on a lack of evidence showing in-service exposure to herbicides or other events that could have caused the veteran's current conditions.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further development due to potential exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board found that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy and pemphigus vulgaris were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied both claims.

The veteran's combined evaluation for his right lower extremity disorder, encompassing a thromboarterectomy of the popliteal artery of the right knee, residuals of a right knee meniscectomy, neuropathy of the right peroneal nerve and varicose veins, was increased to 70 percent effective July 1, 1990. The evaluation for his above-the-knee amputation remains at 60 percent.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's multifocal motor neuropathy is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including providing proper VCAA notice regarding his service connection claim for peripheral neuropathy and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the veteran's disabilities and their impact on his ability to care for himself.

The veteran seeks service connection for cold injury residuals and associated peripheral neuropathy. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus and TDIU were denied, while the claim for reimbursement of ambulance costs was referred to the RO.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for left ulnar neuropathy, bilateral foot disabilities, and actinic keratoses of the forehead, cheeks, and nose. The case is dismissed without prejudice.

The veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of spinal stenosis, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hypertension has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal. Service connection is granted for hypertension as secondary to PTSD.