Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional examinations and development due to missed scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's left radial neuropathy is rated at 30 percent prior to May 7, 2010 and from August 1, 2010 onward. The Veteran's right trigeminal neuropathy is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities have been granted, with a rating of 10% effective October 12, 2006. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected right upper, left upper, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathies have been rated at 10 percent since June 7, 1996. The evaluations are granted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability previously characterized as a back strain and granted service connection. The Veteran's cervical spine disability, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and vision disability are not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been dismissed as this matter is moot due to the RO's award of service connection in an August 2012 rating decision. The remaining claims on appeal are addressed in the remand following the order.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy and PTSD for accrued benefits purposes, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his in-service herbicide exposure and fear of hostile military action, respectively.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's 10 percent evaluation for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity to a 0 percent evaluation, effective May 1, 2009, was proper based on the evidence at the time.

The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic neuropathy was found to not warrant a rating in excess of the currently assigned 20 percent for moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, or hypertension that is related to his military service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, both claimed as due to in-service herbicide exposure, were denied. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and that symptoms of peripheral neuropathy did not manifest until many years after service separation.

The Veteran's right forearm disability is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 8516 for incomplete severe paralysis of the ulnar nerve. The Board finds that his current condition does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of complete paralysis or any other compensable manifestations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, and there are no unusual or exceptional disability factors warranting referral of the Veteran's claim for TDIU for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has not been diagnosed, and therefore service connection is denied.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is pending as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes is found to have caused his current bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The appeal for upper extremities' neurological disabilities will be remanded as the July 2013 VA examination did not adequately assess these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen tuberculosis or psychiatric disability claims. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim was also denied as there is no competent credible evidence of its onset in service or due to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus is found to be the proximate cause of his diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting all four extremities, and this decision grants service connection for both upper and lower extremity conditions.

The Veteran met the minimum criteria for schedular TDIU and was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his peripheral neuropathy and skin disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for new VA examinations to assess his service-connected PTSD, diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and facial lesion disabilities.