Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer, or hypertension. The Veteran's claims were denied as there was insufficient medical evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg disability other than radiculopathy (claimed as a left leg blood circulation condition) is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's axonal type motor polyneuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is not related to herbicide exposure in service and therefore denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right peroneal neuropathy is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for a TDIU, as his combined disability rating is at least 40% and he cannot secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and assessment of his service-connected disabilities' impact on employment.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of peripheral neuropathy during the appeal period and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service or any period of herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and anemia, but denied peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's claims are remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of his peripheral neuropathy.

The Board found no evidence of peripheral neuropathy in service or within one year after service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities is not service-connected as it is not at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinea pedis.

The Veteran is denied service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his service-connected diabetes or herbicide exposure. The Veteran's PTSD claim has been granted with an initial rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 60 percent from October 26, 2010 to October 26, 2011. Since then, the rating has been denied for a higher rating. The Veteran's ischemic optic neuropathy with retinopathy is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities is mildly affected, while his lower extremities are moderately affected.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated diabetic neuropathy have rendered him unable to work since September 30, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment for the entire appellate period prior to May 31, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient development regarding exposure to Agent Orange and treatment records from San Diego Naval Hospital.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied. The current evaluation is 40 percent disabling, effective April 11, 2016.