Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied. The Board found no evidence of peripheral neuropathy prior to September 23, 2014, the date service connection was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with the exception of the claim for a compensable disability rating prior to March 1, 2011 for left upper extremity scar. The remaining claims are also granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected coronary artery disease and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied. The Veteran's coronary artery disease was rated at 30 percent prior to June 13, 2007, and at 60 percent from that date onwards. His peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity was initially rated at 20 percent prior to August 5, 2005, and at 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is causally related to his service-connected PTSD and diabetes-related disabilities, leading to a grant of service connection for depression.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a TDIU from July 1, 2013. The remaining issues were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals for these claims.

The Veteran's left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent from May 8, 2007 to January 13, 2010 and at 40 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 30 percent prior to January 13, 2010 and at 50 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 60 percent from May 8, 2007.,The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 60 percent from May 8, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for a higher level of special monthly compensation due to need for aid and attendance is being remanded as additional examination is needed to assess the extent of his service-connected disabilities.

Service connection was established for PTSD and a noncompensable rating was assigned.,A compensable rating of 50 percent for PTSD was granted effective August 31, 2010.,The Veteran's fractured 2nd toe, right foot received a noncompensable rating prior to February 12, 2013 and a 10 percent rating thereafter.,A TDIU was granted effective January 29, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the exception of his claim for a bilateral eye disorder. The initial rating for diabetes mellitus was confirmed at 20 percent, and he received an initial compensable rating for amputation of the left second toe.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining pertinent medical records and issuing a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing all issues on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorders, residuals of a head injury, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction. The Board found that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to Agent Orange exposure during service.

The Veteran developed left femoral neuropathy as a complication of his July 2008 bypass surgery, but the Board finds that this was not due to negligence or fault on the part of VA. The claim is denied.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current cervical spine and right ulnar neuropathy disabilities to his military service, thus denying these claims.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is not shown to be related to his service, including as due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Board finds that service connection for this disability cannot be established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are at the center of this appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to confusion regarding the manifestations of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and a need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is due to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was denied as there is no evidence that it is related to military service or a service-connected disability. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to July 3, 2012, and the TDIU claim were not addressed in this decision.