Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left and right hand peripheral neuropathy, cold injury residuals of the lower extremities, tinnitus, and hearing loss, meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating due to their combined effect on his ability to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for service-connected chronic headaches, residuals of prostate cancer, and radiation proctitis are denied. The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease was granted a higher disability rating of 40 percent effective February 9, 2010. The appeal is for an increased rating and the current rating adequately reflects his symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn with respect to the issues of entitlement to service connection for a chronic disability manifested by chest pain, hearing loss, PTSD, and a chronic skin disability. The issue of entitlement to service connection for glucose intolerance is deferred pending completion of development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and providing an opinion regarding the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 60 percent disabling, the highest possible under the applicable rating criteria. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and verifying the Veteran's unit involvement in a lightning strike during service.

The VA has determined that there is no current evidence of peripheral neuropathy in the Veteran's bilateral lower and upper extremities, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were denied by the Board, as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims and granted them, with some issues receiving staged ratings. The effective date for the award of PTSD is set at April 9, 2007.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been rated at 40 percent since June 5, 2014. The rating is based on the requirement of insulin and a restricted diet.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing clarifying opinions from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, glaucoma, and cataracts as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA or private treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to clarify whether the Veteran currently has upper extremity neuropathy and if so, its etiology.

The Board finds that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of his bilateral lower extremities is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The preponderance of evidence supports a negative nexus opinion.

The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation at the 'r' levels were denied as he does not meet the statutory requirements for these rates due to his service-connected disabilities and lack of additional conditions.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed due to the inadequacy of previous opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities and their relationship to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.