Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities warrants a 20 percent rating, effective from his date of claim. The disability is currently rated as moderate in nature.

The Veteran's residuals of cold injuries (onychomycosis and peripheral neuropathy) of both lower extremities, as well as his bilateral hearing loss, are all found to be related to service. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bronchitis, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (claimed as Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia), or neuropathy. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically hearing loss and urinary frequency. The Veteran's assertions of continuity of symptomatology are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board dismissed the appellant's claims for earlier effective dates as legally insufficient, finding no allegation of fact or law upon which relief may be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to reassess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, and right hip disorders as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. The adjustment disorder with depressed mood and idiopathic polyneuropathy of the right leg and right hip are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities on an extraschedular basis, finding that the evidence did not show that the disabilities initially rated as 10 percent prior to June 24, 2010, resulted in an exceptional or unusual disability picture.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 40 percent since April 8, 2010. Prior to that date, it was rated as 20 percent from July 18, 2001.,Her hypertension has been rated at 10 percent since July 18, 2001.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from April 25, 2007. His peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent, also effective from September 25, 2010.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including superficial peroneal neuropathy of the left lower extremity and left knee laxity and instability, was granted a combined 40 percent rating effective September 24, 2008. A TDIU was also granted effective that date.

The Veteran's tinea pedis of the right foot is rated at 10 percent, effective February 4, 2008. He also has a separate rating for mild peripheral neuropathy with dysesthesias of the right lower extremity associated with his tinea pedis.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an idiopathic seizure disorder and remanded it for further development. The other secondary claims are also being remanded due to their dependency on the reopening of this primary claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, secondary to diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. For his tinnitus claim, a new VA examination is needed as the previous one did not consider in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy, dizziness, memory loss, dermatitis, and arthritis due to exposure to Agent Orange. The conditions were not found to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and records, as well as details regarding the ongoing criminal prosecution of the Veteran.

The Board found no evidence of acute or subacute peripheral neuropathy that became manifest within one year after last exposure to herbicides, and the Veteran's neuropathy did not resolve within two years. Therefore, service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is found to be caused by long-term use of Flagyl, a medication prescribed and overseen by VA providers. The Board finds that this condition was not reasonably foreseeable and grants compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.