Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine condition status post spinal fusion, right leg neuropathy, left leg neuropathy, right hip condition, and left hip condition as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated his hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a special VA aid and attendance/housebound examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is currently rated at 10 percent prior to March 25, 2014 and has been increased to 50 percent effective on that date.

The Veteran's current left leg peripheral neuropathy disability is related to herbicide exposure in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other events that could support a claim based on such exposure. The Board also found that current diagnoses of these conditions were not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a disability of the bilateral upper extremities during service or within one year thereafter, and there is no evidence showing such disabilities are related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's claim for a bilateral eye disorder was not addressed as it was not part of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is manifested by mild incomplete paralysis, warranting a 10% disability rating. The right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy does not meet the criteria for any higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left upper extremity neuropathy, affecting the lower radicular group, warrants a 40 percent initial disability rating from January 3, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records. The issues of increased ratings for his lumbar spine disorder and associated neurologic impairment are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his military service.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot and shoulder conditions, which prevent him from standing for long periods of time.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities are being remanded due to a need for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury was withdrawn by the appellant. The Board has determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in an employment handicap, and therefore she does not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31 of Title 38 U.S.C.A.