Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus he did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing due to the Veteran's request. The issues of service connection and reopening claims remain pending.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted. The claim for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated secondary disabilities (eye disability, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and kidney disability) due to presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty. Service connection was also granted for bilateral hearing loss as a result of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right hand and wrist disabilities, including right wrist drop, right upper extremity radial compression neuropathy, or right carpal tunnel syndrome, are not related to her active service. The Veteran does not have a current right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and determining the nature and extent of his eye disorders.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, schwannoma, Warthin's tumor, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, heart disease, and chronic myelogenous leukemia, all potentially related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus, made it difficult for him to work. The criteria for a TDIU were met from May 2, 2011 to May 3, 2013.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam and whether his type II diabetes is due to other factors than a brief stay on South Vietnamese land. The appeal will be remanded for these determinations.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremities have been manifest by severe incomplete paralysis, including moderate intermittent pain, constant pain at times excruciating, cramping, edema, mild to severely impaired toe position sense, decreased sensation to monofilament, moderate paresthesias/dysthesia, moderate numbness, burning, decreased to absent light touch/monofilament, decreased to absent vibration sense, trophic changes of decreased distal hair, an antalgic gait, abnormal deep tendon reflexes in the right ankle, and abnormal Electromyography (EMG) test results.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current peripheral neuropathy disability of the lower extremities and is therefore not entitled to service connection for this condition. The left knee disability has been productive of extension limited to 20 degrees and symptomatic partially removed semilunar cartilage, warranting a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy do not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent. The evidence does not show severe or complete paralysis of either posterior tibial nerve.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his left knee, left arm, and/or left shoulder disabilities are directly related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current Parkinson's disease, and his tremors are not otherwise linked to service. Early-onset peripheral neuropathy is presumed related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, but the Veteran did not manifest early-onset peripheral neuropathy within one year after last exposure. The VA examiner found no evidence of a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, and the Veteran's reports regarding the timing of his tremors are inconsistent with other medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional examination and to obtain any outstanding records, including VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy disability, including whether it was caused by or aggravated by his in-service herbicide exposure. The case will be returned for further review after this examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus and related conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is not related to his service, including his service-connected residuals of a fracture of T-12 and L-1.