Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2009

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and initial ratings for his service-connected conditions are being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hip/leg disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, and weight gain as secondary to pes planus with osteoarthritis of the feet.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current status of the appellant's peripheral neuropathy in each extremity.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected residuals, fracture distal shaft left tibia is being remanded to obtain additional evidence.

The Board remands the matter for additional development, including a VA orthopedic examination and obtaining any relevant medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and bilateral neuropathy of the hands, feet, and back. The initial rating for PTSD was also denied.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were not found to warrant ratings in excess of those currently assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for polyarteritis nodosa, pemphigus foliaceous, erectile dysfunction with loss of use of a creative organ, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as they were not shown to be related to his active service or in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board dismissed the appeal as service connection for peripheral neuropathy, to include as due to herbicide exposure or secondary to service-connected dermatitis, has been granted.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to July 16, 2006, and increased to 50 percent from that date due to symptoms of depressed mood, difficulty sleeping, flashbacks, startle response, hypervigilence, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, while severe, do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne, a vision disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and a bladder disability were denied as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board granted service connection for renal insufficiency as secondary to the veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and infectious hepatitis, but denied increased evaluations for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and upper extremities, and denied reopening claims for PTSD, dyspneic disorder with anxiety, and hypertensive vascular disease.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection claims related to bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, essential hypertension with coronary stenosis, neuropathy, left ankle arthritis, right ankle arthritis, left wrist arthritis, left foot arthritis, right foot arthritis, arthritis of the back, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, headaches, and loss of part of the stomach and large intestines.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, left ankle disability, bilateral leg disability (including peripheral neuropathy), and psychiatric disability (PTSD and depression) as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board denied increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings. The claim to reopen service connection for PTSD was also denied.

The Board granted an effective date of September 9, 2004, for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy in all extremities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected cervical strain and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, based on a lack of medical evidence linking the conditions.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development.