Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for SMC based on need for aid and attendance/housebound, earlier effective date for SMC based on need for aid and attendance, increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The RO acknowledged the Veteran's report of needing help with dressing, bathing, and buttoning clothes.

The Veteran's service connected disabilities are rated at a combined 90 percent and render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board finds that there is no causal relationship between the Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities and his service, including herbicide exposure. The evidence suggests that the condition is more likely due to alcohol abuse.

The Veteran's total combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 90 percent, rendering him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy (bilateral upper extremities), as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus and due to herbicide exposure. The decision found no current disabilities involving these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as likely due to Agent Orange exposure. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to provide a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent effective March 25, 2013.

The Veteran is rated as 100 percent disabling for cerebral-vascular accident with partial right sided hemiparesis associated with Type II diabetes mellitus from September 30, 2002. He does not meet the schedular criteria for SMC based on housebound status prior to that date.,The Veteran is entitled to specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities resulting in loss of use of lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without assistive devices.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, or a separate compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, were not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hand sensory and motor neuropathy does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing a new opinion regarding the Veteran's employability.

The case is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and PTSD. The TDIU claim will be deferred pending resolution of these issues.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension began in service and has been continuously present since then. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, was initially demonstrated many years after service and is not shown to be causally related to his active service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and osteoarthritis of the left thumb are not shown to be causally related to his active service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a leg disability other than peripheral neuropathy, ED, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's dysthymic disorder with anxiety symptoms was rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected right elbow disability, ulnar neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and rhinitis and sinusitis were all granted. The right elbow disability was assigned a 50 percent rating from April 24, 2012 onwards.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and sexual impotence as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to assess his service-connected conditions.