Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's address is unclear, and he may be using a different mailing address than his current one.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and a memorandum from a vocational rehabilitation specialist to determine if he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities. The claim will be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of whether TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy does not result in loss of use of his feet, as he still has significant motor function and sensory perception.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine, a back disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to service-connected malaria. The Veteran's December 1944 injury is also considered in determining the cause of his back disorder.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. Therefore, he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is service connected for several disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction. The Board finds it at least as likely as not that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right lower extremity disabilities are not related to his service, including a January 1992 injury during ACDUTRA. The evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him incapable of obtaining or maintaining employment that could be considered substantially gainful from February 26, 2008 to April 27, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining service records from the Veteran's Naval Reserve service and obtaining VA medical records. The Veteran is also scheduled for examinations to assess his current diabetes mellitus severity.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with cataracts.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus or peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied. The Board also found no evidence of herbicide exposure on Guam during the Vietnam era, thus denying service connection based on presumptive exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left wrist peripheral neuropathy did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU for the period from November 3, 2007 to August 10, 2009 due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that his diabetes mellitus and related neuropathy, along with his low back disability, made him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for sensory neuropathy in the left upper extremity effective September 16, 2004. The condition was previously rated as 20 percent prior to this date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus with penile dermatitis, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been granted, with a rating of 10 percent effective March 24, 2008.

The Veteran's death was caused by CAD, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in service. The Veteran did not have any of the claimed conditions at the time of his death and there is no evidence linking them to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and therefore DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 13, 2010 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was granted. The Board also found that he is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.