Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a stomach condition, and peripheral sensory neuropathy of both upper extremities due to lack of current evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, encompassing both lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal for higher ratings or TDIU remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent since September 29, 2002.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a comprehensive medical opinion addressing his employability due to service-connected disabilities and whether he is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to lack of credible evidence supporting the occurrence of the claimed stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is referred back to the RO. The claims of increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy and erectile dysfunction are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (primarily his peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities) have resulted in the permanent loss of use of both legs, as no effective function remains other than that which could be equally well served by below-the-knee amputation stumps with use of a suitable prosthetic appliance. Therefore, assistance for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment has been granted.

The Veteran's right saphenous neuropathy is found to be the result of an injury incurred in active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right inferior gluteal neuropathy has been awarded a compensable rating of 10 percent, effective from July 15, 2008. The RO also granted a noncompensable rating for his right gluteus maximus atrophy.

The Veteran's upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board grants this claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, and left lower extremity as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and the lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to May 8, 2008. The right hand neuropathy was initially rated at 10 percent but has been severed.

The Veteran's increased evaluation claim for coronary artery disease was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied as the service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private medical facility on July 12-13, 2005 due to lack of evidence showing an ongoing emergency and because VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the examination report and need for clarification regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neuropathy symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a muscle condition was denied. However, his claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was granted and set to December 15, 2000.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's right eye atrophy and optic neuropathy, specifically whether it is related to service-connected von Recklinghausen's disease or began during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to April 23, 2002. The claim for TDIU is denied for the period prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.