Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice regarding a disability rating and effective date for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy in his lower extremities, bilateral tinnitus, renal insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision also denied the reopening of a claim for a psychiatric condition other than PTSD.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected shell fragment wounds of the legs have been denied. The left leg residuals are rated as noncompensable, and the right leg residuals with external popliteal neuropathy are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted separate 10% ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the right and left feet, effective June 11, 2001.

The Board denied service connection for neurological disability, to include PN, and denied the reopening of a claim for PTSD. The veteran's current neurological impairment was first noted years after service without any evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for mild peripheral neuropathy of each lower extremity, consistent with the criteria at Diagnostic Code 8521. The veteran's diabetes mellitus remains rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA audiology examination. The veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as increased initial ratings for right and left foot diabetic neuropathy, will be readjudicated.

The veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for various service-connected disabilities and the award of a total rating based on individual unemployability. The case must be remanded to allow for proper VCAA notice, issuance of a Statement of the Case, and readjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for right wrist tendonitis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, osteoarthritis, basal cell carcinoma, and a prostate disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or treatment related to these conditions during or after military service.,Service connection is not granted as the veteran did not have chronic peripheral neuropathy within one year post-service, and there is no medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the relationship between the veteran's current ulnar and median neuropathy affecting his right hand and his military service, including on a secondary basis by indicating whether it is proximately due to, the result of, or chronically aggravated by his already service-connected disability (residuals of a laceration of a tendon in his right index finger).

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as new and material evidence was not presented, and the conditions did not develop due to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the feet and denied it on the merits, finding that new and material evidence was received but that the veteran's current foot disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues related to service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder, as well as the rating claims for the scar and ulnar neuropathy. The appeal is pending due to the need to reopen the previously denied claim for arthritis of the left shoulder.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or home adaptation grant due to his right-sided weakness and need for a wheelchair, which are attributed to a stroke rather than his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service or exposure to herbicide agents, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for complications from a VA surgical procedure in February 2002, including peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and partial paralysis of the vocal cords. The claim will be remanded to determine if these conditions are related to the VA treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notice and new evidence received.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred in September 2, 2002 was denied as he did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment under VA regulations.

The VA has granted a 50% evaluation for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disorder, which includes scar and tendonitis.,However, the RO denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected right ulnar neuropathy.