Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic multisymptom illness and has determined that an effective date earlier than March 2, 2012, is warranted for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his chronic multisymptom illness was found to be plausible due to the evidence showing a relationship between the condition and his military service. For the left lower extremity neuropathy, the Board determined that an effective date earlier than March 2, 2012, is warranted as the Veteran's claim can be construed as seeking a separate compensable disability rating for the neurologic manifestations of his service-connected low back strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and disorders manifested by pain in the groin and buttocks. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right foot injury and headaches, finding that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions are not service connected as they do not have a direct relationship to his military service. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and the current diagnoses were not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's low back disability, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, skin cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, glaucoma, and cataracts are all found to be related to his service due to radiation exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and diabetes mellitus, type II, were granted effective June 5, 2005.,Both conditions are considered to be secondary to his service-connected low back disorder.

The Veteran's combined rating is 50 percent, which does not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU. The Board finds that he does not have factors warranting referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for subacute peripheral neuropathy, to include as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including malaria and left arm disorders, as there was no evidence of active malaria or a causal link to service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his left foot, wrist, knee, and shoulder disabilities have been withdrawn. The claims for service connection for a right foot condition and a right wrist disability were previously denied in December 1999 due to lack of new and material evidence within one year of the decision. New evidence received since then does not establish that these conditions are related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left upper extremity neuropathy is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2, which grants service connection for these conditions as secondary to the diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC at a higher level due to his need for regular aid and attendance by another person.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus, are found to be of such severity as to preclude his participation in any substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for calcification of the left medial collateral ligament was granted, and his TDIU claim was also granted. The combined evaluation for compensation is now at 90 percent.

The Board denied increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and TDIU prior to September 16, 2014. The Veteran's service-connected conditions were found not to meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether any current left foot disability is related to service and whether any diagnosed neurological condition was incurred as a result of disease, injury, or treatment in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his alleged exposure to Agent Orange and to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature of his psychiatric, diabetes, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, adrenal gland tumor, and prostate disability claims.