Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2007

The veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities has been evaluated based on the criteria for paralysis of the median nerve and sciatic nerve, respectively. The evaluations have not met the criteria for higher ratings under these diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing and issuing statements of the case on certain issues.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.,Peripheral neuropathy is also not service-connected, as it did not manifest within the required timeframe after service.

The veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, skin rashes and growths, and PTSD due to herbicide exposure. The case is REMANDED for rescheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his hypertensive heart disease with hypertension and diabetes mellitus with peripheral vascular disease and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including medical records from the Philadelphia VAMC.

The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable that the veteran's service-connected disabilities alone precluded his employment prior to October 20, 2004. Therefore, an effective date earlier than October 20, 2004 for the award of a TDIU is denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected back disability was granted, with a rating of 50 percent.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's right ilioinguinal neuropathy, which is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, chronic renal insufficiency, and peripheral neuropathy, are not related to his military service or service-connected diabetes mellitus. As such, these claims for secondary service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is attributable to active service and grants this claim.

The veteran's claimed conditions of benign prostatic hypertrophy, Parkinson's disease, and neuropathy were not shown to have had onset during service or within the one-year presumptive period following separation from service.,There is no evidence linking these conditions to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, tinea pedis, impotence, glaucoma, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities. The decision also found that severance of service connection for hypertension was not proper.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current tinnitus is reasonably due to service and clearly associable with the tinnitus diagnosed on VA examination soon after service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic neuropathy and type II diabetes mellitus are not warranted, as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The VA examiner found that the service-connected conditions do not render him unable to work, when considering his age and other non-service connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy warrants a 20 percent disability rating, as it currently manifests sensory impairment to light touch and sharp objects across all nerve root levels of the upper and lower extremities.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, PTSD, and diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for left leg neuropathy as secondary to the veteran's service-connected sural nerve injury. The increased rating claim for sural nerve injury is also granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, narcolepsy, hypertension, ocular hypertension (claimed as glaucoma), a left below-the-knee amputation, and peripheral neuropathy. The veteran's leg ulcers secondary to diabetes mellitus claim was withdrawn.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right ilioinguinal and cutaneous femoral neuropathy were granted, but her claims for increased ratings remain in appellate status. The RO assigned a 10 percent disability rating to each condition.