Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2008

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus (Type II) and found that the veteran's diabetic neuropathy is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The effective date of this decision is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence and examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and back disability were denied. The RO granted the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, status post arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy of the right eye, status post right 4th metacarpal fracture, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral vascular disease of the right lower extremity, and peripheral vascular disease of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression, PTSD, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The claim for an initial compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy was also denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his current level of mobility.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and additional development is required.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have neuropathy, both lower extremities, as a result of his service-connected lumbar strain, disk disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy is service connected, as it was incurred during his military service and not due to herbicide exposure.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues on appeal, including the claims for increased ratings and service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as bladder cancer due to exposure to an herbicide agent. The veteran's claim for bladder cancer was previously denied in October 2000 and is still pending.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining employment history and Social Security Administration records.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including a statement of the case on service connection for peripheral neuropathy and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records from his military service.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the appellant's current jaw injury, sensory neuropathy (right maxillary branch), and sinus condition to his period of active duty for training. The Board concluded that these conditions are not service-connected.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are currently rated at 20% and 10% respectively, resulting in a combined rating of 50%. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus or peripheral neuropathy, as there is no evidence of a current disability and the medical records do not support these claims. The veteran's service was outside the areas where Agent Orange exposure was confirmed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left leg and increased evaluations for his right second toe and left fifth toe disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or nexus to service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected postoperative ulnar neuropathy did not result in any pathology during the appeal period, and thus denied his claims for initial compensable ratings.

The veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne as due to Agent Orange exposure is granted. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the neck is denied. The rating for PTSD prior to February 12, 2007, remains at 50 percent.