Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cardiomyopathy with coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, posttraumatic stress disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, hypertension, and diabetic retinopathy, are being reviewed to determine if they render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating as his disability picture did not more nearly approximate the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy and herniated nucleus pulposus. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his service-connected conditions, as well as clarification on periods of active duty.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for the claimed conditions as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a right leg amputation and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, affect his ability to move without assistance. As such, he meets the criteria for a special home adaptation grant.

The Board denied the claims for reopening of service connection for right and left knee disorders, cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, radiculopathy of upper extremities, neuropathy of lower extremities, and psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and diabetic nephropathy are all found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The rating for the diabetic nephropathy is increased from 20% to 60%. Increased ratings of 10% each were granted for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathies.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity neurological disability and left carpal tunnel syndrome are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. His right knee replacement residuals warrant a 60% rating, effective April 27, 2011, while his left knee replacement residuals prior to that date warrant the same rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for neuropathy and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine were denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was caused by cold weather injury during military service, and the Board grants this claim.

The Veteran has effectively lost the use of both of his lower extremities due to service-connected disabilities, which require the use of a wheelchair for mobility.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an extension of a temporary total rating beyond November 31, 2007 for his right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its secondary effects on other disorders. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's CMT disease with peripheral neuropathy is currently rated at 30 percent, the highest available under that rating code. The Board has also determined that he was unable to sustain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to October 13, 2006.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic lower extremity disability during service and concluded that the Veteran's current lower extremity disabilities are not related to his service-connected low back strain.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a vocational rehabilitation specialist opinion regarding his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for CIDP and DVT on the basis that these conditions are aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's timely notice of disagreement with the July 2010 rating decision has been acknowledged, and his claims for service connection are now considered.