Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as erectile dysfunction, finding no evidence of these conditions.

The Board denied a compensable rating for hemorrhoids and did not address the service connection claim for peripheral neuropathy of the arms and legs, as it was final. The veteran is attempting to reopen his previously denied service connection claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy and onychomycosis of the toenails are related to his exposure to cold during active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining records of private hospitalization for hypertension in 1979 and reviewing his file by a VA orthopedist.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection and rating for diabetes mellitus and diabetic polyneuropathy of the lower extremities. The Board finds that the earliest possible effective date is May 8, 2001, as this is when the claim was filed within one year of a change in law allowing for presumptive service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of each lower extremity, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20% for DM or 10% for PN.

The Board found that the veteran's current peripheral neuropathy was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim.

The veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred during his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for renal failure, retinopathy, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for left ulnar neuropathy, residuals of shell fragment wound is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for neuropathy of the right leg and a right elbow disorder, finding no current evidence of these conditions or any link to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with chronic myositis.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining corroborating evidence of alleged stressors and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board found that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not related to his service, including retained shell fragments or a service-connected psychiatric disability. The evidence does not support the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and coronary artery disease status post bypass graft due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits due to incarceration was waived because recovery would be against equity and good conscience, given his total disability from service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, left leg neuropathy, and sinusitis. The denial is based on a lack of credible supporting evidence corroborating the claimed in-service stressors for PTSD and because there is no evidence linking the current disabilities to service or any noise exposure.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, to include retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities. The disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, finding that it was not incurred during active military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for updated medical examinations and compliance with notification provisions.