Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's chronic immune system disorder and whether there is malignancy in any part of the tumor surgically removed. The initial rating issue remains on appeal.

The Veteran was found unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due solely to the effects of service-connected disabilities for the entire period on appeal prior to May 4, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, and impotence/erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicides or any other basis for establishing service connection.

The Veteran sustained a left hip disorder following an August 2010 VA hip arthroplasty. The Board found that the disability was not caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain any form of gainful employment from February 25, 2010, to November 8, 2012.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction. The primary basis for denial is that there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been rated at 20 percent, and this rating is maintained.

The Board finds that the left second toe amputation was not caused by VA care, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current upper extremity disability is not related to service, including exposure to cold and damp conditions in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and peripheral neuropathy of the legs are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative before the Board could issue a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that it is due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The condition was not present during service but became manifest within one year of presumed exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection is denied for all issues.

The Veteran's kidney disease, diabetes, and neuropathy conditions are service-connected. The rating for diabetes is granted at the 20% level, while ratings for other conditions remain at their current levels.

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed and that VA examinations should be provided to address the Veteran's skin disorders, lipoma disorder, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension. The case is being remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been evaluated based on their current manifestations, with no higher ratings warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 4, 2006.,The Veteran's right ulnar neuropathy disability was initially rated as 0 percent and increased to 10 percent effective February 8, 2007. It was then increased to 10 percent effective February 14, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current severity of his psychiatric disorder and its effect on his social and occupational functioning, as well as a VA peripheral nerve examination to determine whether any neurological disability is related to service or to his already service-connected lumbar spine, dorsal spine, and/or diabetes mellitus disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection, including those involving diabetes mellitus type II, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, a skin rash, bilateral hearing loss, depression disorder, and anxiety.