Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for such benefits at the time of his death.

The Veteran's compression neuropathy of the right lower extremity was initially rated at 20 percent prior to February 3, 2011. From that date, it is now rated at 40 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity axonal type motor polyneuropathy, as new and material evidence has been received. The case is remanded to schedule a VA examination and obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing and issuance of a statement of the case on his claim for service connection for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 40 percent effective from November 14, 2006.,Separate initial ratings of 20 percent were assigned for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, both effective from July 1, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure in the DMZ and verification of his presence there.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The claim of secondary service connection for anxiety reaction will also be considered.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for emphysema/COPD, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, CAD, trigeminal neuralgia, and PAD are all denied as they do not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, finding no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year after discharge. The Veteran's current hypertension was not found to be related to his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction were denied as these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, but denied the Veteran's claims for PTSD, chronic sinusitis, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of both feet. The temporary 100 percent evaluation based on convalescence due to surgery of the cervical spine in 2008 is also granted.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is currently rated at 20 percent prior to May 29, 2012, and at 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities is currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 22, 2009. Separate ratings of 20 percent are assigned for involvement of the femoral nerve in both lower extremities. The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, and the same is true for the left upper extremity.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy have been granted. The Board has found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his active service in Thailand, which is presumed to be related to his current diagnoses of DM and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded as additional development of his medical records and employment history is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records.

The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of frostbite to the feet, which he claims are related to exposure to cold weather during his service in Germany. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to missing service treatment records and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as her service-connected conditions did not warrant higher disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are secondary to his service-connected diabetes.