Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The Board has determined that further development is needed to address these claims.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding no evidence of their onset or causation during active duty.

The veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent effective from August 7, 1997. He also has a separate 10 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and peripheral neuropathy, as well as his request for increased evaluations for stress fractures. The decision also noted that new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen the claim for peripheral neuropathy.

The veteran's residuals of a right wrist fracture are not productive of ankylosis, non-union of the radius or ulna or more than mild sensory impairment. Therefore, his claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected scar of the left leg with residuals of sensory neuropathy in the saphenous nerve does not result in more disability than that associated with severe saphenous nerve paralysis, and thus denied a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO granted the initial compensable evaluations, but did not address the issues on appeal.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a heart disorder as a result of treatment at a VA Medical Center in March 1999 was denied because the evidence did not show that his disability resulted from carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of the VA.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, assigning a noncompensable evaluation effective from January 2003. The veteran's symptoms include numbness and tingling in his feet.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for compliance with legal provisions on the VA's duty to notify the veteran and for attempts to obtain SSA records. The claim will be reviewed again after these actions.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's right shoulder disability and neuropathy of the right ulnar and median nerves, as both conditions are currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran is seeking compensation under the 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for ulnar neuropathy, right upper extremity, resulting from a June 1997 VA surgery. The case has been remanded due to procedural deficiencies and additional development is required.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right elbow disability, characterized by limitation of motion and decreased grip strength without neurological impairment, does not warrant a rating in excess of 60 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, finding no evidence of such condition and noting that it is not among the presumptive diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's claims for service connection for dermatitis, peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The RO must ensure that all VCAA notice and development obligations have been satisfied. A VA psychiatric examination is also required.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO, and then returned to the Board for final review.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and numbness of the hands as peripheral neuropathy, finding no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and evidence. The RO will then re-evaluate the claims in light of all pertinent evidence.

The VA has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's migraine headaches, which have been characterized as prostrating attacks occurring on average once per month over the last several months.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for neuropathy of the right thigh, status post surgical resectioning of the cutaneous nerve is being remanded due to a failure to provide proper notice and obtain necessary medical records.