Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral neuritis. The Board has granted a TDIU for the period prior to March 13, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease of the left leg is not etiologically related to active service and therefore denied his claim. The issue of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of both the right and left lower extremities is rated at 20 percent, which represents a full grant of his increased rating claims.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of migraine headaches and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right great toes have been granted, with effective dates set at June 17, 2009.

The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient medical evidence linking the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus, type II, or peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities to service. As a result, service connection was denied for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, its associated complications (diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy), as well as his TDIU claim are all granted. The remaining claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective dates have been denied. The Board found no current evidence of residuals from a fragmentation wound to the right temple, and that his diabetes mellitus with related disabilities were granted based on secondary service connection. Special monthly compensation was also granted based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a Social and Industrial Survey to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for generalized anxiety disorder and bilateral hearing loss are also addressed.

The Veteran's appeals on the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and an effective date prior to January 23, 2008 for diabetes mellitus, type 2 have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities is found to be proximately due to or the result of service-connected diabetes mellitus, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, finding it secondary to a previously service-connected condition and due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure, and the Board finds that all elements of presumptive service connection have been met. The claims for secondary service connection for retinopathy, nephritis, and peripheral neuropathy are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for multiple disabilities, including autoimmune autonomic neuropathy (AAN), which he claims are related. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to clarify his current diagnosis and all residuals or complications therefrom.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. Service connection has been established for diabetic retinopathy, and the Veteran is now rated at 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with complications including nephropathy (microalbuminuria), left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, left hand neuropathy, right hand neuropathy, and tinea rash.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fractured right tibia and fibula, status post bone graft, with a history of right calf atrophy and neuropathy of the right saphenous nerve are rated as 30 percent disabling. The VA Appeals Management Center (AMC) raised his rating to 40 percent effective April 21, 2005.

The Board has remanded this case for scheduling a videoconference hearing due to the appellant's request.

The Board has found that the Veteran's metastatic colon cancer with lung metastasis, as well as his diabetic peripheral neuropathy, are service-connected due to exposure to aviation gasoline containing tetraethyl lead during military service. The claim for service connection was reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, residuals of squamous cell carcinoma, left vocal cord, and erectile dysfunction are also being remanded.