Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2016

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board finds that these conditions render the Veteran unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for various lower and upper extremity disorders, including peripheral neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, and a left foot disorder. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's alcohol dependence is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder, and his non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is also service-connected as a result of his alcohol dependence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need to determine whether the Veteran's neurological symptoms are related to his service-connected residuals of a right distal ulna fracture and to distinguish between symptomatology resulting from the disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral claw foot (pes cavus) with hammertoe deformities and sural hypertrophic neuropathy, as well as his TDIU claim. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or related to military service. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for glaucoma, cataracts, and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and its associated complications.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete service records and need for further medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, right elbow disability, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction and upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity that is attributable to his service-connected left shoulder arthritis, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, CVA residuals, right big toe amputation and left eye loss of vision were denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions had their onset during service or are related to a disease or injury incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy disability for VA compensation purposes and thus, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disability. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examination reports and medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy secondary to herbicide exposure. The Board is dismissing this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a VA medical examination to address the issues of service connection for left-sided neuropathy due to chemical exposure and myofascial pain related to the neck.

The Veteran incurred an additional disability, diagnosed as complex regional pain syndrome and mild incomplete sensory and motor neuropathy of the right foot, that was proximately caused during VA surgery on March 11, 2008. The event was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and onychomycosis, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and hypertension. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity prior to July 14, 2012 was denied. Since then, he has been granted a 20 percent rating effective from that date. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cold injury residuals, and peripheral vascular disease, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance on a daily basis. The Board finds that the criteria for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance are met.