Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2007

The veteran's claim for increased ratings and effective date for service connection was denied. The Board found that the residuals of a crush injury of the right first and second toes warranted a 10 percent rating, but not more.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities does not meet the criteria for a separate compensable rating, as his symptoms are very mild and do not result in sufficient functional loss to warrant such a rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an ophthalmological examination to determine if the veteran has current eye disability related to his service/eye trauma.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, claimed as spinal stenosis; entitlement to an increased rating for residuals of removal of his spleen; TDIU due to service-connected disabilities; and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional back pain resulting from a May 2004 VA x-ray procedure.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including verifying in-service stressors and obtaining VA psychiatric and medical records.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of his claim for an increased rating for post traumatic peripheral neuropathy of the right cervical area, C3-C4.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in his upper extremities and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's left leg neuropathy is not related to his service or his service-connected degenerative joint and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not caused by VA care, but rather occurred as a result of his lobectomy performed at a VA Medical Center. The decision denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed additional back disorders, including ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis, mixed connective tissue disorder, and neuropathy, are not related to her service or a service-connected lumbar strain. The claim for increased rating of lumbar strain is denied as there is no evidence of severe lumbosacral strain with specific findings required for a higher rating.

The veteran's initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been granted, with a rating of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus and 10 percent each for diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his combined rating is 70 percent and he does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on disability alone.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Charcot joint collapse of the right foot, arthritis of the right knee, and arthritis of the left knee were all denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the veteran did not have service in Vietnam and thus could not establish presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's appeal is denied as he received the appropriate amount of VA compensation for the period from June 1986 to October 2003.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues listed in the caption, and therefore these claims are dismissed.

The veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, claimed as the residual of exposure to Agent Orange, was denied. The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder was also denied.

The veteran claims service connection for peripheral neuropathy, which he believes is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Board has determined that a VA examination should be conducted and the case remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence showing symptoms compatible with moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied an increase in a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus, but the veteran's hypertension and arthritis claims are not currently on appeal.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic retinopathy, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU determination as they preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.