Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that additional development is required to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for neck disability and right upper extremity neurological disorder, including obtaining updated medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated as 20 percent disabling throughout the claims period from March 17, 2004. Separate ratings of 10 percent for each lower extremity prior to June 3, 2006 are granted.,Separate ratings of 20 percent for each lower extremity from June 3, 2006 to December 2, 2008 are granted. Ratings of 40 percent for each lower extremity from December 3, 2008 to December 12, 2012 are granted.,Separate ratings of 60 percent for each lower extremity from December 13, 2012 are granted.

The Veteran has neuropathy of the feet that is a qualifying additional disability caused by VA treatment for gout, specifically the use of Colchicine. The proximate cause was not reasonably foreseeable as it was due to self-administered excessive doses of Allopurinol and Colchicine rather than prescription errors.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse resulted in occupational and social deficiencies, warranting a 70 percent rating. The Veteran also meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development related to his claims of service connection, particularly regarding exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Guam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed due to service, and his bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are also presumed secondary to the diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 29, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to address the nature and etiology of his gastrointestinal condition(s), peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and headaches.

The Veteran's neuropathy of the right upper and lower extremities was found to be manifested by mild, incomplete sensory loss. The Board denied claims for increased disability ratings as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted initial ratings of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities, but the Veteran is seeking higher ratings. The evidence shows moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve in each lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeals for increases in the ratings assigned for his peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of left wrist fracture, disability of the right wrist/upper extremity (carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy), lumbar spine disability, hypertension, and arthritis in multiple joints were denied. The Board found that these conditions did not manifest during or within one year after service and are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no actual exposure to herbicide agents during his service and thus no presumption of exposure applies. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have early onset peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 22, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and due process issues, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's employability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for DM II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a failure to obtain relevant medical records. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is now pending again.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his residuals of a right shoulder separation and shell fragment wound of the right foot, have been rated appropriately at 10 percent.