Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure as it is not well-grounded.

The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for diabetes mellitus with associated conditions prior to April 28, 1997 was denied as the evidence did not show that his manifestations warranted such a rating.

The Board denied service connection for acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy, chloracne, and PTSD due to herbicide exposure. The veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cold injury, finding that there is no credible evidence to support his allegation of an inservice cold injury. The veteran's current peripheral neuropathy is attributed to diabetes rather than a cold injury.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, including both Agent Orange exposure and Hepatitis C as a possible cause, is well-grounded. The appellant's chronic peripheral neuropathy is found to be secondary to complications from Hepatitis C, which almost certainly was contracted during his tour of duty in Vietnam.

The veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's current lower extremity symptoms are more consistent with a progressive peripheral neuropathy than post-polio syndrome, and denied service connection for post-polio syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy as secondary to Agent Orange exposure and PTSD, finding that the evidence was not well-grounded.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of left median neuropathy, which was claimed as secondary to service-connected left ulnar neuropathy. The evidence did not support a relationship between the veteran's service-connected left ulnar neuropathy and his current left median neuropathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, PTSD, and tinnitus. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder (claimed as dysthymia and PTSD) was considered on a de novo basis. Service connection for chronic low back pain was granted with a 10% evaluation. The veteran's left inguinal hernia and eye disorder claims were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right ulnar neuropathy and denied an increased rating for partial left facial numbness. The issue of a compensable evaluation for the fracture of the left lateral malleolus remains pending.

The Board found the veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities to be well grounded. However, it denied reopening his claim for a skin condition due to Agent Orange exposure as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy is secondary to exposure to Agent Orange during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his service-connected low back pain syndrome and denied service connection for lumbar spine facet degenerative changes with bilateral sciatic neuropathy, finding that the current symptoms were not caused by his service-connected disability.

The veteran's initial evaluations for residuals of x-ray therapy with a dry mouth and trigeminal neuropathy affecting the right eye were granted, but both conditions received lower initial ratings than requested. The decision is mixed as one issue was granted while another was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of frostbite (trenchfoot) warrant a combined 40 percent rating from January 12, 1998, based on separate 20 percent ratings for right foot peripheral neuropathy and a 10 percent rating for left foot peripheral neuropathy in addition to previously assigned 10 percent ratings for frostbite of each foot.

The Board found that the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy is not well grounded due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, soft tissue sarcoma, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative joint disease of both hips, disability of both shoulders, and neck disability are not well-grounded. The Board has denied these claims previously.

The Board found that the veteran's chloracne, a condition presumed to be caused by exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, is service-connected. However, there was insufficient evidence linking his peripheral neuropathy to active service.