Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including an examination to determine if the Veteran has type I diabetes mellitus and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating of type II diabetes mellitus and service connection for peripheral vascular disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's diabetes required regulation of activities, and his peripheral neuropathy was not shown to be compensable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and necessary opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and his claims have been dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities are rated as moderate, warranting a 40% rating for each affected upper extremity (right) and a 30% rating for each affected lower extremity (left).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate medical opinion in May 2012.

The Board finds that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is proximately due to or the result of diabetes, and grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral polyneuropathy of the lower extremities and degenerative disc disease with a small left protrusion are rated at 40 percent for orthopedic impairment, and 10 percent each for mild incomplete paralysis of the left and right lower extremity.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ulnar neuropathy of the right upper extremity, type II diabetes mellitus, and peripheral polyneuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, combine to render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and that there was no evidence of a cervical disorder or bilateral hip/knee/shoulder/ankle disorders related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's claimed neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, including whether it is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, PTSD, coronary artery disease, connective tissue disorder, tinnitus, and appendectomy, produce sufficient impairment to make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations and opinions regarding his peripheral neuropathy, skin disorders, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, considered in combination, precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 15, 2010, and that no disability(ies) distinct from those considered in the 100 percent combined schedular rating effective from October 15, 2010 rendered him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination of his disabilities and consideration under extra-schedular criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to afford him a comprehensive examination and for consideration of whether any additional separate compensable ratings are warranted for his diabetic complications.

The Veteran does not have tinnitus, a bilateral knee disability, colon polyps, hypertension, PTSD, or diabetic peripheral neuropathy that is related to active service.,There is no evidence of any diagnosed disabilities in the claims file and no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the toes and finds that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active service. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.