Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the appeals related to service connection for peripheral neuropathy in all four limbs.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for sensory neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the right foot is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA medical examination.

The Board found that peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities did not have its onset in service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms after service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues except the initial rating of 50 percent for a psychiatric disorder, including a generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted, as his combined service-connected disabilities (80% and later 90%) meet the criteria for a TDIU. The VA examiner found that all of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus type 2, aggravated his rosacea.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy in the left upper and lower extremities as secondary to Parkinson's disease, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current manifestations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, a bladder condition, acid reflux, infection of the hands, and a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The claim for erectile dysfunction was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected low back, right hip, and right ankle disabilities. The remaining claims of service connection for a cervical spine disorder, idiopathic polyneuropathy of the right leg and right hip, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of voiding dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, acid reflux, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the hands at a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left lower extremity disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an opinion on the etiology of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are currently rated at 10 percent each, effective from June 28, 2001. The Board has granted higher initial ratings of 20 percent for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, thus the Board finds that he is unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death, as it does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate claims involving deceased veterans.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, but his hearing loss disability and hypertension claims remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and his claim was denied on both schedular and extraschedular grounds.

The Veteran's current neuropathy in his bilateral upper extremities is being remanded for additional development to determine its relationship to his service-connected neck disability or any other event in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.