Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2012

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy or residuals of Guillain-Barre syndrome is related to his active duty service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment, with sedentary forms of employment being possible.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent each, reflecting moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities does not meet or approximate criteria for a rating greater than 20 percent.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is found to be related to his presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as hypertension, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy as the conditions are not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding his service connection claims, particularly with respect to hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of diabetes mellitus or peripheral neuropathy in service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not linked to his military service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in his left ear, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities, hypertension, and a skin condition. The decision also addressed issues related to PTSD, allergic rhinitis, and lower back disability.

The Board has determined that the case should be remanded for further development, including VA examinations to clarify the nature of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and their relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left total knee replacements, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and sleep apnea were not shown to be related to his military service. The Board found that he did not have a current eye disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of both legs have been denied as the evidence does not show that the disability warranted higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities) do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions alone do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current polyneuropathy of the lower extremities is not due to his service-connected prostate cancer or radiation treatment, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran does not have PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disability, depressive disorder NOS, is not related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence shows that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and PTSD are rated at their current levels.

The Board finds that service connection for peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is warranted, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and associated peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU are met.