Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is manifested by pain, numbness, tingling, and limitation of motion. The Board finds that the Veteran's right ankle limitation of motion is best characterized as moderate in severity, warranting a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of his upper extremities, finding that there was no medical evidence confirming a diagnosis prior to February 3, 2004.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was granted. His initial rating for PTSD was increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for optic neuropathy with loss of vision of the left eye has been granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is remanded due to a request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus and associated foot neuropathies have been granted initial compensable ratings, with the right and left foot neuropathy receiving a 10 percent rating effective February 28, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that new evidence did not reopen his hypertension claim but denying all other issues on the merits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, claimed as due to exposure to herbicides, was denied by the RO. The case is remanded because a separate claim for diabetes type II has been raised and may impact this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination to determine the current nature and etiology of his left knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claim for service connection for foot pain, numbness, and tingling in his bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities have been evaluated at a 10% rating since service connection was granted, but no higher. The current evaluations are considered appropriate based on the mild disability levels.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is at least 70 percent, meeting the criteria for a TDIU from January 5, 2009. The Veteran has been unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right posterior thigh with peripheral neuropathy affecting the cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve and the popliteal (common peroneal) nerve are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Codes 5313-8521. The Veteran's disability does not warrant a higher evaluation as there is no evidence of more than moderate impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the left leg, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service or to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center on October 10, 2007 were reimbursed due to the emergent nature of his treatment for a service-connected condition and the unavailability of VA facilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently existing neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is not etiologically related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability, including his thoracolumbar strain. The claim for secondary service connection for neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no credible evidence to support his PTSD diagnosis and the other conditions did not appear related to his military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, which he claims is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim will be remanded for further development including a VA examination.