Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and to schedule a VA examination for his diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service connection claims for CAD, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, prostate cancer, and ED secondary to prostate cancer are granted with effective dates prior to June 19, 2015.,The effective date for each claim is March 31, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peroneal nerve damage, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS, and right hip trochanter bursitis, among others, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction are all found to be related to his service-connected hypertension. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that it is a manifestation of an autoimmune sensory-motor axonal-demyelinating polyneuropathy caused by exposure to herbicides in service. The acquired psychiatric disorder, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, related to service-connected peripheral neuropathy, has also been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, hepatitis (claimed as liver disorder), lung disorder, heart disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The decision found no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy, including as secondary to service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to address these issues.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to lack of evidence during the appeal period.,Service connection was not granted as there is no current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in either upper or lower extremities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is not related to service, including herbicide exposure. The claim for secondary service connection due to diabetes mellitus type 2 is also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy disability is not related to his active service, including herbicide exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has a current disability due to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a new VA opinion on his left foot condition and associating any available physical therapy records with his claims file.

The Veteran was not found to be permanently and totally disabled due to nonservice-connected disabilities from August 22, 2007, to September 29, 2016.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective January 27, 2012, as he met the schedular criteria for a combined disability rating of 70 percent due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a higher rating since April 28, 2006. He is also entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for updated VA examinations. The issues of service connection are inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and multiple neuropathies, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities has been granted a higher rating, with specific ratings for each affected nerve.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection and increased ratings for hypertension, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and upper extremities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, provide examinations, and determine if there are any errors in the current evaluations.

For the period prior to February 8, 2016, the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is rated at 20 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as there is credible supporting evidence that corroborates his lay assertions of in-service traumatic events. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and it is related to an event in service.