Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and requesting SSA disability benefits records. A new VA examination will be scheduled to address the nature and severity of his service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound, left calf, and the etiology of any left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for peripheral neuropathy is granted, with the condition considered to be of direct origin and not due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and opinions from the May 2012 VA examiners regarding service connection for DM and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, neuropathy, or carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and sleep apnea have been denied. The January 2014 VA examination indicated that the Veteran does not currently have these conditions.

Your claim for service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities has been dismissed as your benefit is already in effect due to a recent rating decision granting service connection and assigning ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and assigned a 10% evaluation. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities is also service connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with effective dates set at November 30, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hallux valgus of both feet, diabetes mellitus type 2, headaches, reactive airway disease, and sleep apnea. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims, and that the Veteran's conditions were not related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service, and his peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities are also found to be related to service. The appeal for these issues is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include as due to exposure to an herbicidal agent, is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left ulnar neuropathy of the forearm is currently rated at 20 percent, which reflects moderate incomplete paralysis. The Veteran has no other service-connected conditions affecting his left upper extremity.

The Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities were denied as there is no evidence showing a nexus to military service, including Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has not been manifested by pronounced symptoms, including marked pronation, extreme tenderness of plantar surfaces of the feet, marked inward displacement, and severe spasm of the tendo Achilles on manipulation that is not improved by orthopedic shoes or appliances. As such, a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus has not been met.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent prior to October 15, 2008 and at 40 percent as of that date. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities has been rated at 20 percent since May 18, 2012.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred in service or due to herbicide exposure. The Board found no evidence of Vietnam service and the appellant could not provide any records of alleged exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic neuropathy with CTS of the RUE and LUE, as well as for diabetic neuropathy of the RLE and LLE, were denied. The conditions are currently manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis in both upper extremities and mild to moderate incomplete paralysis in both lower extremities.

The Veteran is granted specially adapted housing due to permanent and total service-connected disability, specifically the loss of use of both lower extremities. The claim for a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is rated at 30 percent prior to July 30, 2012, and 20 percent thereafter. Service connection for hypertension remains denied.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent evaluation for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of each lower extremity, effective February 28, 2014.,The initial evaluations for hypertension and diabetic neuropathy remain denied.