Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2015

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity were evaluated based on their current severity, with no additional evaluations granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, cervical osteoarthritis, residuals of a right ankle injury, scar of the right thigh, and erectile dysfunction, result in a combined rating of 90 percent. The Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as he has more than one disability rated at least 40 percent disabling.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on mild incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and higher ratings for his right shoulder disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that the earliest possible effective date was February 25, 2003, and denying entitlement to staged ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in most cases and insufficient medical nexus to support the Veteran's assertions.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of frostbite, specifically neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities. The other issues have been addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities do not meet the criteria for higher schedular ratings.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine disorder, left lower leg neuropathy, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and left foot disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude substantially gainful employment and to determine if his shortness of breath, chest pain, and right foot pain are due to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal of his claims for increased evaluations for polyneuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus with hypertension, fatigue, and erectile dysfunction has been manifested by a restricted diet, limited activity, oral medication, and insulin. The criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for additional private treatment records. The Veteran's claim is related to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the appellant's unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at a non-VA facility on April 23, 2012 was denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is related to his service-connected ulcerative colitis, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy was rated at 10 percent prior to June 27, 2011. The Board found that the disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of evidence of muscle wasting or atrophy.

The Veteran's service-connected cold weather injuries to the hands and feet, hypertension, hand pain, left foot drop, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower right extremities, and sleep disorder have been granted. The Veteran is assigned a 10 percent disability rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, colon cancer, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or radiation. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under applicable regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and deck logs, as well as a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's polyneuropathy is related to his service. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.