Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, diabetes mellitus, tobacco and nicotine abuse, myalgia, myositis, vitamin B-complex deficiency, dysthesthenia, PVD, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The remaining claim of entitlement to increased rating for ischemic heart disease is addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of no more than 50 percent prior to September 6, 2011 and a rating of 70 percent since that date. The Veteran does not have service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper or lower extremities.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, kidney disorder, edema, neuropathy, left foot disorder, and right foot/ankle disorder. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been granted. The effective date remains to be determined as there is no specific information provided.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The current ratings are deemed appropriate based on the severity of the disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ulnar nerve compression neuropathy and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The remaining issues are still under consideration.,The Veteran has multiple conditions that he is seeking service connection for, including headaches and calcaneal spurs and pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction (ED), hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for demyelinating polyneuropathy, claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure, was denied. His hypertension claim resulted in a grant of an initial 10% rating.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities was not present during service or within one year after separation, and there is no evidence that it is related to his active service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The Board denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to ensure that all relevant evidence has been considered and a thorough examination is conducted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and associated peripheral neuropathy have rendered him unable to work since May 31, 2006. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes was not related to her military service and denied all issues of secondary service connection. The Veteran's conditions are considered direct service connection cases.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent, effective September 12, 2011.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have resulted in no more than moderately severe incomplete paralysis during the appeal period, warranting a 40 percent rating each. Therefore, an initial rating higher than 40 percent is denied.

The Veteran's service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted effective May 4, 2004. The claimant is not entitled to a rating higher than 10% prior to November 17, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and updating VA treatment records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was granted an increased rating to 40 percent effective April 13, 2016. His peripheral neuropathies were also granted increased ratings with the right upper extremity receiving a 30 percent rating and left upper extremity receiving a 20 percent rating from April 13, 2016. The Veteran's right lower extremity received a 40 percent rating and his left lower extremity received a 40 percent rating effective January 6, 2015.