Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2011

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The evidence shows that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to his diabetes.

The Board found that the Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy is not related to in-service exposure to jet fuel, and thus denied service connection for both upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran has been granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for common peroneal neuropathy, left foot, due to total left hip replacement surgery performed at a VAMC.,However, the claim for leg length discrepancy, left leg, is pending as there is no evidence of fault on VA's part.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DJD of the feet and legs was granted effective February 9, 2004. The condition is presumed to be related to his in-service cold exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied, and his attempt to reopen a claim for peripheral neuropathy was also denied. The Board finds that the claim must be remanded to consider whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for ulnar neuropathy with residual nerve deficit and left elbow pain. This includes obtaining clarification on the Veteran's military duty status during a specific period, obtaining relevant medical records from private providers and federal agencies, and requesting an opinion from a neurologist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's condition.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain VA medical records and a hearing loss examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, right foot disability (to include arthritis), left foot disability (to include arthritis), chronic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and low back disability. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted a separate evaluation for right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type I, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and onychomycosis of the feet and hands as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type I.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective January 26, 2009. The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities has been reopened but remains denied. The claim for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD was not granted.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal low back pain with sciatic neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Separate ratings of 10 percent each are assigned for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities due to the service-connected low back disability.,The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and GERD do not meet the criteria for a separate rating in excess of 10 percent.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's anterior lipomas, fusion of the right foot and ankle, right leg reflex sympathetic dystrophy, chronic nerve pain of the right leg, or atrophy of the right leg are related to her service-connected low back disability or other service-connected conditions.,Service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the exception of her tinnitus claim which is pending. The issues on appeal include chronic urinary disorder, Chiari malformation, bilateral ulnar neuropathy, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and a skin disorder, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure in the Gulf War, are being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, finding no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's left foot and ankle peripheral sensory neuropathy has been characterized as moderate, incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve. The Board grants an initial rating of 20 percent for this condition since March 29, 2006.

The Veteran's critical illness polyneuropathy, resulting from VA treatment for pancreatitis in August 2004, is found to be the result of an unforeseeable event and thus meets the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and neuropathy of the hands, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, and the separate peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity warrants a 10 percent rating. The Board denied an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus and found no basis for a separate evaluation for facial numbness as secondary to diabetes.