Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of bilateral inguinal hernia repair is granted.,The claim for service connection for depression, to include as due to in-service exposure to mustard gas and as secondary to service-connected disabilities, is granted.

The Veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as he was not rated as totally disabled for a continuous period of at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The Board granted the Veteran's service connection for bilateral lower extremity polyneuropathy and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam is presumed. The Veteran was also found to have set foot on land in the Republic of Vietnam, qualifying him for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and left knee disorder have all been denied as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's autonomic neuropathy, dysautonomia, and bradycardia with a pacemaker do not more nearly approximate a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope. Therefore, the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a heart disability and peripheral neuropathy, both presumed due to herbicide exposure, were denied as the evidence did not show that these conditions were present within one year of his last exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various disabilities, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and injuries to the right arm, legs, knees, and feet. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding these claims.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity are each rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of the disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 20 percent.,His claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, secondary to diabetes has been reopened and granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral upper extremity or lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and thus, service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to be a result of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as service connection for an umbilical hernia, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Board has granted service connection for idiopathic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's TBI is not addressed as it does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are all found to be related to his service-connected condition. The appeal for spousal aid and attendance allowance is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity has been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address informed consent and medical care issues related to the Veteran's HIV treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not related to his active service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted effective May 19, 2006. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was also granted effective May 19, 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities has been granted initial ratings of 20 percent for each, effective April 11, 2014.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for macular degeneration and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and lower extremities. The evidence received since the last final denial is considered new and material, as it raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.