Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2016

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these matters.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic neuropathy, and right total knee replacement are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The TDIU claim is also being referred for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anemia, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and entitlement to a total rating by reason of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling, and the Board found that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability. The other claims for service connection or a TDIU were denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD with depression, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and lung disability did not manifest within one year of separation from service or are otherwise related to his active military service.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is not service connected, as it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The Board found that the condition is more likely related to a workplace injury and cervical radiculopathy.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuropathy is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or contributed to his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied both the cause of death claim and the DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has ordered additional development to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right hand disorder, including peripheral neuropathy as secondary to shell fragment wounds and/or in-service herbicide exposure, is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has residuals of shrapnel injury to the right upper extremity which includes neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 5, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 90 percent, with service-connected disabilities that do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his occupational experience and educational background.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities or erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected diabetes type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is service connected as due to exposure to Agent Orange, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his thoracolumbar spine disability, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold percentage requirement to establish eligibility for TDIU, but his unemployability due to PTSD and peripheral neuropathy is being referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unemployable.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including hypertension, is service-connected as due to herbicide exposure.,Diabetes mellitus, type II, is also service-connected as due to herbicide exposure.