Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy (claimed as peripheral neuropathy) has been granted, resolving all doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran's alcohol use is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is productive of moderate paralysis, warranting a 20 percent rating. The appeal for TDIU was withdrawn prior to the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for PTSD, as well as his claim for TDIU were denied. The Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss or tinnitus that is service-connected. His PTSD was rated at 30% prior to November 17, 2011, but the Board found no evidence of a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not establish he was exposed to Agent Orange during his time in Korea.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left wrist ankylosis with ulnar neuropathy is not related to his service-connected left wrist disability and thus, denied. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have an upper extremity neurological disorder, to include peripheral neuropathy, left cervical radiculopathy, and left ulnar neuropathy, that is attributable to active duty service or was caused or made worse by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU, as his disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's left leg disability is not etiologically related to active service and is not shown by competent medical evidence to be etiologically related to his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for secondary service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further development, including a VA examination and adjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected gunshot wounds did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from cerebrovascular accident, as there was no evidence linking the Veteran's death to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is not service connected, as it did not manifest within one year after separation from service or due to his service-connected varicose veins. The condition may be presumed related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity does not meet the criteria for SMC based on loss of use of the left lower extremity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities, including memory loss, neurological problems, cervical stenosis, and residuals of a thoracic spine compression fracture, are not related to his service-connected conditions or an in-service incident involving elevated arsenic levels. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for increased evaluations for various hand and wrist disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA examination findings, as well as any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records and any outstanding private treatment records from Kaiser. The case will be reviewed by a VA examiner who will provide an opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, including as due to herbicide exposure, and his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for peripheral neuropathy in both the left and right lower extremities, based on incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and clarification of his exposure history.