Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from various sources and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient evidence, including a questionable military retirement examination report that may have been altered. The Veteran's service connection claim for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathy is being reviewed again with additional efforts to obtain missing STRs and a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for his service-connected degenerative disc disease from L3 to S1 with neuropathy of both lower extremities was denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU rating, and the claim for a temporary total rating beyond June 30, 2003, due to convalescence following surgery was dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims for hypertension and diabetic eye disability are pending.

The Board has determined that the claimant's service connection claims are inextricably intertwined with his diabetes mellitus claim. Therefore, all issues related to secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction, depression, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and diabetic retinopathy will be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the left leg. The Veteran's appeal is now complete with regard to these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed left eye optic atrophy had its onset in service or is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability, and thus grants service connection for residuals of a left eye injury.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner regarding the September 2006 physician's statement and whether the Veteran's neurological symptoms are secondarily related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of peripheral neuropathy in the Veteran's lower extremities, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted due to his service-connected disabilities making him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left elbow injury are manifested by mild paralysis of the ulnar nerve, warranting a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left leg disability, which he contends resulted from rabies treatment in service. The case was previously remanded to obtain information about the vaccine used during his service. A new VA examination found peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity but did not provide an opinion on its etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides or other environmental factors. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the claimed conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are currently rated at 20 percent each, effective February 28, 2002. The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, effective April 12, 2004.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity were denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a disability in service.

The Veteran's initial or staged rating for diabetes mellitus is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his condition requires regulation of activities, hospitalizations, or other significant impairment beyond what is contemplated by the current 20 percent rating.

The Board has requested the Veteran's opinion on whether additional evidence should be reviewed by the AOJ or if he wants to proceed with a new SSOC. The case is being returned for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining deck logs and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, anxiety disorder (PTSD), and peripheral polyneuropathy of the upper extremities have been granted. Effective dates have also been established.