Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2011

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for left and right lower extremity neuropathy, effective as of the date of the decision.

The Veteran's left wrist traumatic neuropathy is currently rated at 40 percent for the period beginning November 17, 2007. He is also entitled to a separate disability rating of 10 percent for his left wrist tender surgical scar.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and related complications. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, with secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The case has been remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic neuropathy with diplopia of the left eye is currently rated at 30 percent, and there is no evidence in the record to support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a neurological evaluation to determine the etiology of the Veteran's falls and whether they are related to his service-connected right lower extremity compression neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his education and occupational experience, rendered him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment as of June 29, 2004.

The Board has determined that further development is required to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and herpes genitalia were granted, with initial noncompensable evaluations. The claim for service connection for herpes genitalia was denied.

The Veteran's DDD with chronic lumbosacral strain was rated at 40 percent prior to April 1, 2010. Effective from April 1, 2010, the Veteran is entitled to a 60 percent rating for his disability due to incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). The TDIU claim was granted effective April 1, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and arthritis of both knees, were rated at 100% disabling prior to his death in March 1998. The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the January 1986 decision that denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as it did not consider the Veteran's combined disability rating at the time of his claim in 1985.

The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which includes the need for assistance with activities such as dressing, undressing, bathing, and attending to personal hygiene needs. The Veteran's service-connected conditions have resulted in significant limitations that necessitate this level of care.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left ulnar neuropathy warrants a 20 percent disability rating, reflecting moderate incomplete paralysis of the nerve.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of death, finding that neither a disability of service origin nor a previously service-connected condition caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to July 10, 2009 were denied as there was no evidence of unemployability due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities had effectively resulted in his inability to use both feet for a year prior to June 23, 2008. Therefore, an effective date of August 14, 2007, was granted for the award of special monthly compensation at the P-1 level.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II and its related peripheral neuropathies. The issues are all secondary to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, which is claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from February 24, 2004 to December 31, 2006 and increased to 50 percent effective January 1, 2007.,From June 7, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and employment history.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was not characterized by severe impairment, and his radiculopathy and peroneal neuropathy were of no more than moderate severity. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities is currently rated at 20 percent each, while his upper extremity conditions are rated at 10 percent. The evidence does not show that any higher ratings are warranted for these disabilities.,Higher disability ratings are not granted as the medical evidence does not demonstrate symptoms warranting a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.