Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2013

The Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy that began in service or within a year of discharge, and it is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicides. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for adrenomyeloneuropathy, which renders moot the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for chronic spastic paraplegia of the lower extremities with a neurogenic bladder and a neurogenic bowel.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities did not manifest during or as a result of his military service and is not presumed to be related to exposure to herbicides. The Board finds no evidence supporting a connection between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's educational pursuits are reasonably feasible, particularly in light of his successful completion of course work preparation and given the market for clergy in Virginia. The Veteran's vocational goal is to become a pastor, which he has already started pursuing with his own funds.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left elbow disability (separate from left ulnar neuropathy), right elbow disability, and right ulnar neuropathy. The appeals were based on a direct relationship to service without any presumption or secondary theory of service connection.

The Veteran's current symptoms are not related to service, including a cold injury or frostbite. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left forearm disorder, right heel injury residuals, or any of the other claimed conditions. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction were granted effective November 17, 2005.,Effective October 30, 2007, the Veteran was granted service connection for erectile dysfunction. The other conditions have an earlier effective date of November 17, 2005.

The Veteran's service connection claims for type II diabetes mellitus, thyroid condition, hypertension, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service in Korea.

The Veteran's service-connected neuropathy and sciatica of the left and right lower extremities are currently rated at 10 percent each, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8521.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for RSD and left arm neuropathy was denied in November 1994, but she did not appeal. The effective date of the current grant of service connection is October 5, 2004.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is service-connected.,His peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, with foot ulcers and Charcot joint disease, is also service-connected as secondary to his diabetes mellitus, type II.,His peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, right and left, is also service-connected as secondary to his diabetes mellitus, type II.,His peripheral vascular disease of both lower extremities is also service-connected as secondary to his diabetes mellitus, type II.,His diabetic retinopathy is not service-connected.,His sleep apnea is not service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities did not have its onset during his active military service and is not secondary to, nor is it permanently worsened beyond its normal progression by, his service-connected recurrent pilonidal cyst with painful scarring of the buttocks.

The Board has found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's currently diagnosed peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his PTSD symptoms and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a more complete examination of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is being remanded due to the need to rebuild his claims file and obtain additional evidence. A VA neurology examination will be conducted, and a decision on the merits of his claim will be made after all necessary development.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for various GSW residuals and assigned an initial disability rating of 50 percent for the MG II, III, IV GSW residuals.

Service connection was established for residuals of a neck injury, peripheral neuropathy of the right hand, and ocular migraine headaches with effective dates set at March 17, 2006.