Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone has prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since February 26, 2010. Additionally, the combination of his service-connected disabilities (including PTSD) has resulted in a combined schedular rating of 70 percent effective February 26, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and erectile dysfunction, have been granted. He is also granted SMC at the housebound rate.,Initial ratings of 20 percent each for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both feet as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus. The issue of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the November 2010 VA examination report.

The Veteran seeks service connection for multifocal motor neuropathy, which he attributes to his inservice exposure to Agent Orange. The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to determine if the current condition is related to military service and/or inservice herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral vision loss, a psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder), chronic headaches, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis of the right shoulder, arthritis of the left shoulder, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, arthritis of the right knee, arthritis of the left knee, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has also been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected disabilities, including left foot paresthesias, exostosis of the left ankle, right shoulder capsulitis with nonunion fracture of the acromion and surgical scar, and left ankle scar. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a brain tumor - right bifrontal meningioma has been reopened due to new evidence submitted since his last final denial in 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a heart disorder (to include a heart attack), finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus and PTSD, finding that his conditions did not warrant higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, including as due to herbicide exposure. The case is being remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total rating for convalescence following surgery for a service-connected disability was dismissed due to the grant of such benefit in a May 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left shoulder disability, elevated blood sugar (including diabetes mellitus), hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy are granted on the basis of presumptive exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to address the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to consider the entire appeal period, from December 28, 2004, as part and parcel of her higher initial rating appeals for her service-connected disabilities of the right and left lower extremities. The Veteran may be prejudiced by the Board's de novo adjudication of the claim with consideration of the entire appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, skin disability, and hypertension, have been denied. The appeals are based on direct evidence or lack thereof.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity are not related to his period of military service, including his presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's left elbow disabilities were caused by his refusal to follow medical instructions and physical resistance during an altercation with VA police, which occurred while he was refusing treatment. The Board finds that these disabilities are not compensable under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is not related to service, including as a result of herbicide exposure. The evidence did not show continuity of symptoms since service and was inconsistent with other medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current disability due to his claimed peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, which could be attributed to active service. Therefore, service connection for this condition was denied.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any heart disorder, peripheral neuropathy in either upper or lower extremity, or respiratory disorder.,As such, the criteria for service connection are not met.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities was rated at 10 percent prior to December 30, 2015. As of that date, his condition warranted a rating of 20 percent for each affected limb.