Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 10, 2003, for the grant of TDIU was denied as there is no evidence showing a factual increase in disability within one year prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service department certification regarding the Veteran's February 1992 military service and addressing all arguments raised in the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to confirm the Veteran's service in Korea and to obtain additional medical records. The appeal will be returned to the Board after this is completed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's polyneuropathy, including whether it was initially sustained during service or related to exposure to contaminants at Camp Crowder.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of cold injury/frostbite, bilateral feet, with lower extremity pain is granted due to the presence of current diagnoses and credible reports of in-service exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of his bilateral upper extremities, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral strain and associated lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow the RO/AMC to adjudicate whether separate ratings are warranted for objective neurological abnormalities associated with his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetic sensory neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, and toenail fungus as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,These conditions are now considered service connected due to their being complications of the Veteran's primary condition (diabetes mellitus type II).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO in Huntington for a Board videoconference hearing. The claims of service connection for skin cancer, skin disability, type II diabetes, neuropathy, and kidney disease are pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The claim is currently in remand status.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral radiculopathy and neuropathy of the lower extremeties, which he claims are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claim is reopened.,The Veteran also seeks an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The Veteran's current bilateral foot disability, diagnosed as small fiber peripheral neuropathy, is due to service-connected PTSD and alcohol dependence. The Board grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right ulnar neuropathy/carpal tunnel syndrome was initially awarded a 10% evaluation, effective September 30, 1996. The rating was increased to 20%, effective June 12, 2002.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left shoulder disability and bilateral lower extremity disorder (excluding radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy) were granted. The initial evaluations for the disabilities are 10 percent each.,Effective February 24, 2011, the Veteran was assigned increased ratings of 20 percent for his right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy. The initial evaluations were 10 percent each prior to this date.,The Veteran's service connection claims for a left shoulder disability and bilateral lower extremity disorder (excluding radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy) were granted. The initial evaluations for the disabilities are 10 percent each.,Effective February 24, 2011, the Veteran was assigned increased ratings of 20 percent for his right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy. The initial evaluations were 10 percent each prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current neurological disabilities of the face and bilateral hands.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy, leaving only the tinea versicolor issue still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as of July 14, 2009. His combined disability rating is 80 percent with consideration of the bilateral factor.