Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2016

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has resulted in no more than mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve, including constant pain and occasional decreased reflexes and sensory disturbances such as feelings of burning, cold, tingling, and numbness. The Veteran does not have muscle atrophy or motor impairment.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy in both legs, affecting the sciatic and femoral nerves, has been rated at 20 percent since April 20, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need to consider herbicide exposure as a potential cause of his neuropathy.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities that had its clinical onset in service or within the first post-service year, nor is it otherwise related to service. The Board also determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy was not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with his lumbosacral spine disability are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities has been rated at 20 percent since April 30, 2012. The rating remains unchanged prior to that date.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current cervical spine, low back, bilateral hip, and upper extremity neuropathy disabilities and his military service. The repetitive lifting and handling of heavy objects during active duty are not considered to have caused or aggravated any of these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 and related peripheral neuropathy have been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that new evidence received since the prior final rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The Veteran's diabetes is related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's polyneuropathy was caused by his active duty service, including exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected right ulnar neuropathy is manifested by subjective complaints of numbness, pain, and difficulty gripping objects. The evidence shows that the disability is purely sensory with no motor impairment. As a result, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right ulnar neuropathy is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions did not manifest during or within one year of his active duty service, and there is no evidence linking the conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that these conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to cause the Veteran's death. The independent medical opinion concluded that the service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding his ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities was not shown to have developed as a result of his military service or exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange. The Board found that the condition did not manifest within one year of discharge and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's fatigue, joint pain and myalgia are not due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness. The symptoms are more likely related to his diagnosed conditions such as cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, wrist disability, diabetes with neuropathy, PTSD, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and service connection are all denied as the evidence does not support a finding of exposure to herbicides or other conditions related to his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diagnosed conditions of bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, a bilateral hip disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, or a bilateral knee disorder. The cervical spine disorder is also denied as it was not caused by service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of all issues on appeal.