Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for autoimmune hemolytic anemia/cold agglutinin, peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus and herbicide exposure, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus due to herbicide exposure. The decision was based on lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for additional disabilities and assigned a schedular 100 percent permanent disability rating effective October 13, 2004.

The veteran is seeking service connection for peripheral neuropathy, which he claims was incurred during his military service. The case has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of evidence.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for higher ratings of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, as he was granted a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board has granted the veteran's motion to advance his appeal and is now considering his claim for service connection for residuals of bilateral foot injuries, including peripheral neuropathy of the feet, ulceration, and deformity. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Type II diabetes mellitus with complications including diabetic peripheral neuropathy related to herbicide exposure, and asbestos-related respiratory disease. The veteran's claims were not supported by competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including metastatic duodenal tumor and Cushing's syndrome, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and her military service.

The veteran is seeking TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The case has been remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his employability.

The veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent, the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5314. The Board also granted service connection for a peroneal neuropathy that is proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disorder, and the left knee disability did not meet criteria for higher evaluations prior to or from November 2004. Headaches, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the left hand were also evaluated without meeting criteria for increased ratings.

The veteran's claim for eligibility for vocational rehabilitation and employment services, specifically, lapidary equipment through independent living services was denied as the achievement of a vocational goal is not currently feasible.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, neuropathy, and poor blood circulation. The evidence did not support the veteran's claims of current disabilities or their onset in service.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions: no chronic disability was found, and there is no indication that any condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disorder is remanded due to conflicting diagnoses and need for further examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities and whether they are related to his nonservice-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, which is granted.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of service connection for diabetic neuropathy and erectile dysfunction were denied as the earliest date entitlement arose is February 18, 2004.,The veteran was granted an effective date of December 6, 2004 for his claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's DJD of the left wrist with CTS, finding that his symptoms were best described as mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve without limitation of motion or X-ray findings of degenerative arthritis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for autonomic insufficiency, end-stage renal failure, peripheral neuropathy, and orthostatic hypotension as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and type 2 diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a neurological examination and consideration of newly obtained private treatment records.