Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities was not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service, nor may service connection be presumed as a result of service in Southwest Asia. The evidence did not support a link between his current symptoms and his military service.

The Veteran's right arm and hand neuropathy is found to be secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and therefore, he is not entitled to presumptive service connection for any conditions related to Agent Orange exposure. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support a finding of herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disorder, including optical neuropathy and retinopathy, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records from the California Department of Corrections.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with nerve root involvement. The evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has found that the currently demonstrated ulnar neuropathy at right elbow was caused by service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since the date of his claim, effective March 2012.,The Veteran's CAD and diabetes mellitus are both rated at 60% prior to January 17, 2012, and thereafter at 30%. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20%, and tinnitus at 10%. Bilateral hearing loss has no compensable rating.,The Veteran was granted service connection for erectile dysfunction with SMC effective January 17, 2012. He also received service connection for sternotomy scar and coronary artery disease effective August 20, 2010.,Service connection is granted for B-cell Leukemia as due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). Service connection is denied for chlorance and soft tissue sarcoma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain regular substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, and peripheral neuropathy have been denied as not supported by evidence showing direct service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be causally related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss, tinnitus, left leg neuritis, and bilateral hip arthritis claims are pending.

The combined effects of the Veteran's right hand and right knee disabilities make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to unclear evidence regarding his employability and the need for additional examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the feet and legs, including peripheral neuropathy, are not related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and early-onset peripheral neuropathy are presumed to have developed as a result of herbicide exposure during active service.

The Board has reopened the claims for depression, subdural hematoma with headaches and dizziness, calluses on the feet, lumbar spine disability, seizures, peripheral neuropathy of various extremities, and prostate complications. However, these claims are being remanded to allow further development.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to be the primary cause of his current peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities.,There is no evidence indicating that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide or ionizing radiation during service, thus there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of secondary service connection for parotid gland tumor and skin disease.

The Board denied service connection for actinic keratosis, neck disorder, and low back disorder. Service connection was not granted for peripheral neuropathy as the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, as there is no competent and credible evidence showing current disabilities or a link to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and peripheral neuropathy, both claimed as due to exposure to herbicides, are being remanded for additional development.