Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and service connection for these conditions is granted.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable prior to January 7, 2014. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities have been rated as noncompensable prior to February 23, 2011. Effective from February 23, 2011, a rating of 10 percent has been granted for each condition.

The Veteran's postoperative hemilaminectomy and laminectomy, low back, was rated at 20% prior to March 28, 2012, and at 60% from that date onwards.,Right lower extremity neuropathy was rated at 40% prior to March 28, 2012. Since then, the Veteran's condition has been rated at 40%.,Left lower extremity neuropathy has also been rated at 40% since March 28, 2012.,The Veteran's left shoulder arthritis was initially rated at 20%, and this rating remains unchanged.

The Board found that the Veteran's residuals of a cold injury did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service. The Veteran's polyneuropathic peripheral neuropathy was also not shown to be related to service.,The Board determined that there was no evidence showing that the Veteran's polyneuropathic peripheral neuropathy had its onset during service or within one year of discharge, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The Veteran's cold injury residuals were also found not to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of all remaining issues and discontinue further development.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating based on additional limitation of motion or other factors. The claims for bilateral shoulder, hip, knee disabilities, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as they are not proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left foot disability, including neuropathy and other related conditions, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current diagnoses and his period of active service.

The Board found no evidence of a right shoulder disability, headaches, sleep apnea, tinnitus, right hand disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, back disability, neuropathy, allergies, arthritis, or erectile dysfunction that were incurred in service. The Veteran's current conditions are not presumed to have been incurred due to the lack of showing within one year post-service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II and assigned a noncompensable rating. For diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, the Veteran received an initial compensable rating effective October 7, 2015.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of pseudophakic (cataracts), diabetes mellitus, type II associated with herbicide exposure, and erectile dysfunction. He also withdrew his claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities as a result of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right lower extremity neuropathy has been granted.,Service connection is now established for bilateral upper extremity diabetic neuropathy and tinnitus secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Veteran's Reserve service and providing medical opinions on various claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is not related to his military service, including presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence does not show a diagnosis or onset during service, within one year after discharge, or due to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by his service-connected conditions, including congestive heart failure. The cause of death listed on the revised death certificate was pneumonia.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes, neuropathy, and hypertension, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, have been found to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as increased ratings for lower extremity peripheral neuropathies were granted. Service connection was established for PTSD based on in-service stressors verified by evidence of record. The Veteran's current diagnoses of hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathies are all found to be related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted. For diabetes mellitus, the rating prior to January 13, 2017 remains unchanged at 20 percent; however, a higher rating of 40 percent is granted since that date.