Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and retinopathy are denied as there is no diagnosed condition. The claim for service connection of bilateral upper extremity and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy remains pending.

The Veteran is found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly his PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right arm condition, specifically ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome), is related to his military service and grants service connection for this disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service personnel records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy of the fingers and toes has been in effect since October 11, 2006. The RO reduced the rating from 40 percent to 20 percent effective March 1, 2008.,The RO granted an earlier effective date for separate ratings of 10 percent each for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities since October 11, 2006.

The Board found that the evidence did not demonstrate that the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to June 17, 2005.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; hypertension; and peripheral neuropathy of his hands and feet. The evidence did not show any in-service exposure to herbicides or other potential causative factors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and cellulitis of the left lower leg, as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, is being remanded due to inadequate examination report and missing VA treatment records.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right leg or right knee disorder present during service, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ulnar neuropathy is attributable to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities, including type II diabetes mellitus and coronary atherosclerosis.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy have been rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is rated at 20 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent. The combined rating for these conditions is 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was denied as there is no evidence of a penile deformity, which would be required for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claim for neuropathy of the lower extremities, claimed as secondary to his service-connected diabetes, is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology and nature of any current neurological disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of this claim, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in any extremity, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for sensory neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and right radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship to military service. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder claim is still pending.