Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both feet remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a separate rating for neurological residuals of his right knee injury, finding that there is no evidence linking the neuropathy to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including verification of stressors and VA examination to determine the nature and extent of any additional disability attributable to medical treatment or examination.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, was denied. The RO granted service connection for hypertension but did not assign a compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral vision disability, resulting in blindness of the left eye and corrected central vision acuity of no worse than 20/70 in the right eye, does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy and neuropathy of both feet is currently rated at 40 percent, effective May 13, 2004.,From May 13, 2004 to October 18, 2006, the Veteran's right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy was rated at 10 percent; and his left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy was also rated at 10 percent.,Since October 18, 2006, the Veteran's right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy has been rated at 20 percent; and his left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy has been rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral diabetic retinopathy is currently rated at 30 percent.

The claim for service connection for pancreatitis has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been presented. Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus type II with minimal background retinopathy and cataracts, but no higher or earlier rating is warranted. Ratings of 10 percent are assigned for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and erectile dysfunction.

The Board found no basis to grant a compensable evaluation for prostatitis, as the symptoms are attributed to a nonservice-connected gunshot wound of the low back.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a herniated disc, and neuropathy. The decision found that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity neuropathy disorder is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbar radiculopathy as secondary to peripheral neuropathy, increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities were all denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including providing corrective notice and obtaining an opinion from a VA physician regarding whether any service-connected disability contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet, associated with herbicide exposure is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the condition is related to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The VA determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet is not related to his service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis, and therefore denied secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neuropathy of both feet is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected hepatitis C, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and those secondary to herbicide exposure, were denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year after separation. The Agent Orange presumption does not apply due to the Veteran's testimony that he did not set foot on Vietnam soil.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is granted, and he is assigned a 10 percent evaluation for his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection claims, including those related to diabetes mellitus and its secondary conditions.