Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

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.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting medical opinions regarding his diabetes, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension and a higher evaluation for his upper extremity neuropathies. He also seeks severance of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD).,The Board has determined that the issue of whether the severance of service connection for CAD was proper needs to be remanded due to additional development being required.,The Veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his depression and headaches, as well as TDIU. He also seeks an earlier effective date for his upper extremity neuropathies.,The Veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his right and left upper extremity neuropathies. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the severity of these conditions.,The Veteran is seeking a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, depression, and upper extremity neuropathies. Additional development is required for this issue as well.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus was denied, but the Board granted service connection for bilateral feet peripheral neuropathy as secondary to his diabetes mellitus. The decision also found that there is no basis for a higher initial rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to assess his diabetes mellitus Type 2 and its complications. The issue of TDIU will also be considered.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to conflicting medical records regarding the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The case will be readjudicated after a VA examination is conducted.