Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to his service, specifically his exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Vietnam.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his in-service combat stressors and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The VA also found no evidence linking the veteran's peripheral neuropathy to service, including herbicide exposure. As such, both claims were denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions as a result of her service.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that the veteran's symptoms more closely approximate moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and assigned an initial rating of 10 percent effective June 10, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran was in civilian status at the time of his injuries, and therefore VA benefits for a spinal disability with polyneuropathy are not warranted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for vascular headaches, peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease of both upper and lower extremities, tinea pedis/fungus infection/onychomycosis of both feet, all claimed as secondary to cold exposure. The decision also denies his claims for new and material evidence regarding service connection for residuals of cold injury; bilateral hearing loss; weakness and numbness of both lower and upper extremities; disability of both hands, manifested by pain, stiffness, and cold sensitivity; disability of both feet, manifested by pain, stiffness, fallen arches, and cold sensitivity; sinusitis; bilateral ankle disability; and bilateral knee disability.

The veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sensorimotor axonal peripheral neuropathy is related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 17, 1998 was denied due to CUE. The motion argued that VA did not properly inform the veteran of the different criteria for rating ulnar neuropathy affecting his major or minor upper extremity. After reviewing the record, the Board determined there was evidence of CUE and granted the motion to revise the decision such that February 27, 1998 is the effective date for the 60 percent disability evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for numbness in the right lower extremity as secondary to a service-connected low back condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, and neuropathy secondary to Type II diabetes mellitus. The decision found that there was no evidence of diabetes during service or within one year after retirement, thus denying direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's multiple joint arthritis is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The claim for cold injury residuals remains pending as there is conflicting medical evidence regarding its etiology.

The veteran's claims for increase in right knee chondromalacia and initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for a rating for low back injury is also denied.

The Board found no evidence of current neuropathy, chronic headache disorder, tinnitus, TMJ dysfunction, skin rash, back disorder, heart disorder, or kidney disorder. The veteran's service records do not show any such conditions during his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficiently severe to meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back condition and diabetes mellitus with associated neuropathy, are now shown to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is unemployable due to these conditions as of August 8, 2006.

The veteran's left and right lower extremity neuropathy are each rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 60 percent from April 18, 2007. The neuropathy of the right lower extremity warranted a 10 percent rating since August 14, 2003. The dermatitis of the left forearm did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal of the claims for service connection for a stomach ulcer, pigmentation of the right eye, avitaminosis, bilateral ulnar nerve peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral deQuervain's tenosynovitis. As such, these claims are dismissed without prejudice.