Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy did not manifest during service or until many years thereafter and is not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The porphyria cutanea tarda with pyoderma, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus are all rated at their maximum levels.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims. The Board also found that the Veteran's current peripheral neuropathies are not related to his active duty or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is found to be causally related to his neurological disorders affecting the right upper extremity, other than radiculopathy, including carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar neuropathy. As such, these conditions are granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal by the appellant's representative prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and thus is not entitled to presumptive service connection for any conditions based on herbicide exposure. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and eye disorder are denied as they are not related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is manifested by decreased sensation, absent reflexes at times, pain, numbness, and paresthesia in the lower legs, feet, and ankles without motor or muscle deficits. Therefore, a 10 percent disability rating has been granted for each lower extremity.

The Veteran is granted increased ratings for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as neuropathic arthropathy of the left knee. The highest rating assigned was 40 percent for the right upper extremity from September 11, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, are denied as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure or direct service incurrence. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and an eye disorder were denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is currently rated at 40 percent each since June 16, 2015. Prior to that date, a 40 percent rating was assigned for both conditions.,The VA examiners have consistently characterized the Veteran's symptoms as moderate to severe, with no indication of severe neuropathy required for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation at the 'r' rate is being remanded due to new evidence and additional development of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the nature and likely etiology of his current bilateral foot disability, including neuropathy, as well as whether it was incurred in service due to exposure to harmful substances tested at Dugway Proving Ground.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist and hand traumatic arthritis, skin disability (including chloracne), and neurological disability of the upper extremities to include peripheral neuropathy and/or carpal tunnel syndrome. The effective date remains August 1, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing herbicide exposure during his service aboard the USS Constellation, and thus, he is not entitled to the presumption of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II and its complications. The appeal is currently in remand status due to the need to verify herbicide exposure during his service at U-Tapao Air Base.