Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2011

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of each lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 19, 2003.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and its related complications, including genitourinary disorders, bilateral lower extremity pain (peripheral neuropathy), vision loss, and anemia. The Veteran's right knee disorder is also now considered service-connected as secondary to his left knee disability.

The Veteran's shell fragment wound, left triceps with left ulnar neuropathy is rated at 50 percent disabling since July 7, 2005. The rating for complete paralysis of the ulnar nerve adequately encompasses his symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding no evidence linking it to service or Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's essential tremor of the hands was also not granted service connection due to lack of a link to service.,Service connection was denied for both conditions as there is insufficient evidence to support their onset during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete verification of herbicide exposure and the need for a VA examination to determine if current tremors and neuropathy are related to service, including potential herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of coronary artery bypass graft surgery, including an infection of the sternum resulting in a sternotomy, scars, muscle loss and atrophy has been granted under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to VA hospital care causing an additional disability not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including secondary to hypertension. The case is now pending with the RO.

The Veteran's BPH was not shown to be related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy has not been reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus with cataracts and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The RO will also obtain recent medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to his exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam-era service. Claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus no presumption of exposure to herbicides applies. The claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, and cerebral vascular disease have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and assigned separate 20 percent evaluations effective March 31, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying herbicide exposure and obtaining a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee, thigh and leg shrapnel wounds are rated at 20 percent each since February 27, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease of the feet were incurred as a result of his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral upper limbs neuropathy is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for ulnar nerve entrapment of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a right knee disability, all including as due to herbicide exposure or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied the remaining claims, including those related to diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded due to conflicting statements regarding his military duties.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a general medical examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after resolving any issues related to hypertension.