Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a link between the veteran's peripheral neuropathy and his in-service herbicide exposure, thus denying service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial disability ratings higher than 10 percent for his lumbar disc disease, radiculopathy, and peripheral neuropathy of the right foot were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating codes.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for cold injury residuals to his feet and hands, finding that new evidence supports a current diagnosis related to in-service frostbite. Service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, Parkinson's Disease, peripheral neuropathy, and a skin disorder. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims, and that there was no medical evidence linking any of these conditions to military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service and therefore denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of reopening his claim of peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure is referred back to the RO.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were rated at their highest possible levels prior to July 10, 2001. The effective date for these ratings will be determined in connection with a separate issue.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as erectile dysfunction, finding no evidence of these conditions.

The Board denied a compensable rating for hemorrhoids and did not address the service connection claim for peripheral neuropathy of the arms and legs, as it was final. The veteran is attempting to reopen his previously denied service connection claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy and onychomycosis of the toenails are related to his exposure to cold during active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining records of private hospitalization for hypertension in 1979 and reviewing his file by a VA orthopedist.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection and rating for diabetes mellitus and diabetic polyneuropathy of the lower extremities. The Board finds that the earliest possible effective date is May 8, 2001, as this is when the claim was filed within one year of a change in law allowing for presumptive service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of each lower extremity, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20% for DM or 10% for PN.

The Board found that the veteran's current peripheral neuropathy was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim.

The veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred during his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for renal failure, retinopathy, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for left ulnar neuropathy, residuals of shell fragment wound is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for neuropathy of the right leg and a right elbow disorder, finding no current evidence of these conditions or any link to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with chronic myositis.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining corroborating evidence of alleged stressors and scheduling VA examinations.