Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, obsessive compulsive disorder, and major depressive disorder as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy is not warranted.

The Veteran's postoperative herniated nucleus pulposus is currently rated at 40 percent, which meets the criteria for this rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at 80 percent combined, meeting the minimum schedular requirements for a TDIU. However, the evidence does not show that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus type II is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The TDIU claim is also denied due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the appellant's claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, lacerated liver, and hernias.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities is a result of his service-connected Type II Diabetes Mellitus, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy. The claim for low back disorder was also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, finding that it is related to his military service and not due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy was linked by a VA examiner to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy was denied, and his claim for an increased rating for residuals of myocardial infarction status post percutaneous coronary intervention was not addressed due to the need for additional examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension due to a lack of evidence showing in-service exposure or manifestations within one year following separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic venous insufficiency and polyneuropathy, claimed as bilateral ankle disorders, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his PTSD and heart disease.

The Veteran's service-connected interdigital neuropathy of the left middle finger is currently rated at 20 percent, which reflects moderate incomplete paralysis. The claim for secondary service connection for a left arm condition was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and effective dates, finding that service connection had already been granted prior to February 27, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship with military service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the Veteran did not have actual duty or visitation in Vietnam, thus precluding presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability with sciatic pain, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the cause of death and the need for a medical opinion regarding whether any service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's failure to thrive.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied as the earliest date of receipt of a claim was November 1, 2004.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied as the earliest date of receipt of a claim was November 1, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected lower back disability and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable rating criteria. The Board finds that no higher ratings are warranted based on the evidence of record.