Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2012

The Veteran's blindness/loss of use of the eyes is not deemed to be due to VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment. The disability was found to be a complication of her service-connected Graves' disease.

The Veteran is entitled to specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, including loss of use of both lower extremities. The claim for a special home adaptation grant is moot as the Veteran is already eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's disability on appeal has not been manifested by complete paralysis or severe incomplete paralysis with marked muscle atrophy, and therefore the claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent is denied.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and his symptoms are related to post-service injury, not service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities are of such severity that he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, which is presumed due to herbicide exposure. However, the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset in active service or is otherwise causally related to his period of military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pernicious anemia and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity beginning September 12, 2006 and for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity beginning September 12, 2006.

The Board has determined that the purchase of a home therapy spa is necessary to help promote the Veteran's independence in daily life due to his severe disabilities, including diabetes and neuropathy.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by polyneuropathy, to include Guillain-Barre Syndrome, that is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities is rated at 20 percent each, reflecting mild incomplete paralysis of all radicular groups.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 7913. His peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity are each rated at 20 percent, his peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity are each rated at 10 percent, and his erectile dysfunction is rated as noncompensable. His bilateral diabetic retinopathy of the eyes is also rated as noncompensable.

The Board found that the Veteran's neuropathy of the bilateral hands was not caused or aggravated by cold exposure during active military service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's evaluations of 30 percent for peripheral neuropathy in each lower extremity, effective April 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his Erectile Dysfunction (ED) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show any physical deformity of the penis in addition to the loss of erectile power.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development and readjudication of his service connection claims, including consideration of recent VA treatment records and private medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DM, cancer of the larynx/trachea, and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or service connection.

The Board has found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is secondary to his service-connected diabetes. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, effective February 22, 2001. The Veteran's condition was severe enough to warrant a 100% disability rating.