Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's right middle finger disorder, mild neuropathy of the right extensor hood, and right shoulder disorder are already rated at their maximum allowable levels under applicable VA rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining his Social Security Administration records and readjudicating his claim based on all evidence of record.

The Board found that the veteran's diagnosed peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is not due to VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of VA fault in treating the veteran, and was not the result of an event not reasonably foreseeable.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation from his original grant of service connection for right inguinal hernioplasty with ilioinguinal and genitofemoral nerve neuropathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's sciatic nerve neuropathy with right foot drop and prostatism/neurogenic bladder (urinary incontinence) are rated at the maximum allowable under current regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis with tarsal tunnel syndrome and polyneuropathy, assigning a 20 percent rating effective August 21, 2001.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and seeking a VA physician's opinion regarding whether the veteran's neuropathy and right lower extremity nerve damage resulted from treatment provided during his 1955 VA hospitalization.

The Board found that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim is denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left hand neuropathy is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of DeLuca factors, including functional loss after prolonged use.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and diabetic nephropathy and hypertension are being remanded to allow for additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with diabetic nephrology and diabetic neuropathy, lower extremities, does not require regulation of activities or episodes of ketoacidosis/hypoglycemia requiring hospitalization. Therefore, a higher rating is denied.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for peripheral polyneuropathy of both feet, secondary to diabetes mellitus. The disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling from April 12, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy and primary lateral sclerosis as due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and arthritis, both claimed as residuals of frostbite incurred during active service. The VA found that there was no objective evidence of a cold injury in service and insufficient medical evidence to link current symptoms to such an injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has remanded this case for further examination and opinion regarding the veteran's claimed neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus requires treatment with insulin and a restricted diet, but does not require regulation of activities. The claim for an increased evaluation is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicides was denied as there is no evidence of a disease or disorder for which a presumption of service connection arises, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for his service-connected disabilities, including scars of the chin and forehead, right ulnar neuropathy, left shoulder impingement, and a total evaluation based on individual unemployability. The effective date for each condition was confirmed as November 7, 1994.