Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has granted a separate evaluation for right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type I, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and onychomycosis of the feet and hands as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type I.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective January 26, 2009. The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities has been reopened but remains denied. The claim for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD was not granted.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal low back pain with sciatic neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Separate ratings of 10 percent each are assigned for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities due to the service-connected low back disability.,The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and GERD do not meet the criteria for a separate rating in excess of 10 percent.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's anterior lipomas, fusion of the right foot and ankle, right leg reflex sympathetic dystrophy, chronic nerve pain of the right leg, or atrophy of the right leg are related to her service-connected low back disability or other service-connected conditions.,Service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the exception of her tinnitus claim which is pending. The issues on appeal include chronic urinary disorder, Chiari malformation, bilateral ulnar neuropathy, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and a skin disorder, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure in the Gulf War, are being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, finding no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's left foot and ankle peripheral sensory neuropathy has been characterized as moderate, incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve. The Board grants an initial rating of 20 percent for this condition since March 29, 2006.

The Veteran's critical illness polyneuropathy, resulting from VA treatment for pancreatitis in August 2004, is found to be the result of an unforeseeable event and thus meets the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and neuropathy of the hands, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, and the separate peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity warrants a 10 percent rating. The Board denied an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus and found no basis for a separate evaluation for facial numbness as secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective date, increased rating, and service connection are denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering the Veteran's claims of entitlement to TDIU and an increased initial evaluation for right ulnar neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral compartment syndrome status post full compartment release of the left lower leg is granted, with a rating of 20 percent. The issues regarding peripheral neuropathy are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the left upper extremity as secondary to his service-connected left wrist arthritis is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for cataracts and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss have been withdrawn. The remaining claims of increased evaluations for polyneuropathy of the four extremities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy; and background diabetic retinopathy are granted. The claim for service connection for impotence is remanded.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, at least for the period from December 4, 2007, to January 28, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities and denied his claim for service connection.