Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2015

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is etiologically related to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, and the Board grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's left foot disability, including tarsal tunnel syndrome and surgical scars, resulted in a total loss of use to the extent that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump with prosthesis. The Veteran is therefore entitled to a 40% rating for her left foot disability and special monthly compensation for loss of use of the left foot since February 19, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected median-ulnar nerve trauma with neuropathy of the right upper extremity was granted, and she is now rated at 20 percent. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities on a presumptive basis due to exposure to Agent Orange during active service.

The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as early as August 21, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran served in Vietnam and is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. Therefore, service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted as they are presumptively related to such exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was found to have manifested as subjective complaints of pain, burning, tingling, numbness and weakness with objective evidence of hypoactive deep tendon reflexes, an abnormal gait, neuritis, neuralgia, affected sciatic nerves and decreased vibration sense. The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for each lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran is rendered unemployable as the result of service-connected disabilities and has been granted a TDIU.

Since October 12, 2006, the Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities has been manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis with symptoms including numbness, mild paresthesia and/or dysesthesias, moderate constant pain, reduced muscle strength, intermittent decreased or absent sensation, and intermittently increased DTRs. The Veteran is currently rated at 20% for each affected limb.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left elbow and left upper extremity neuropathy disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication of the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left foot disability, to include degenerative arthritis; and a low back disability, to include degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case in response to his disagreement with the initial rating assigned for bilateral hearing loss, and a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge will be scheduled.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spouse does not meet the criteria for an aid and attendance allowance as her disabilities do not render her unable to care for her daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right inguinal hernia, recurrent with sensory neuropathy, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, prostate gland disorder, bladder disorder, and hypertension are all related to his military service exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, kidney disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are not deemed to be due to VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar paravertebral myositis from October 31, 1994, and denied ratings higher than 10 percent for right leg S1 radiculopathy and left leg peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding no evidence that these conditions are related to his diabetes mellitus or service.