Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a review of his employment history.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The issues include seeking increased disability ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy and coronary artery disease have been granted as they are presumed to be due to Agent Orange exposure.,For the remaining conditions, further examination is needed to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and assigning separate disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current neuropathy of the lower extremities, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of February 6, 2009, based on the combined rating and his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, DM, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hand neuropathy. The VA examiner found that the Veteran did not have COPD or DM during his active duty service and that any current diagnoses are more likely due to post-service factors.

The Veteran is granted specially adapted housing due to multiple service-connected disabilities, including the loss or use of the left lower extremity and residuals of organic disease/injury affecting balance and propulsion. The issue of a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's right upper extremity impairment due to Parkinson's disease is rated at 70 percent since November 15, 2006.

The Veteran's hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities are found to be secondary to his service-connected renal failure and diabetes, respectively. Service connection for anemia is granted with a 100% rating effective July 20, 2011, and the cause of death is also granted effective January 1, 2012.

The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening the claim for service connection and finds that a current bilateral foot disability was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's right hand and wrist median neuropathy are rated at 50 percent since December 18, 2015. The left hand and wrist median neuropathy are rated at 40 percent since December 18, 2015.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent, and there is no basis for an increased rating. The Veteran has gout in his left ankle and foot, which warrants a compensable rating, but not separate ratings for the wrist and hand or great toe. The Veteran also has arthritis of the left great toe, which warrants a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Vietnam is presumed and his current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is related to his military service. The claims for peripheral neuropathy and myasthenia gravis are remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied a compensable disability evaluation for post-traumatic sensory neuropathy of the right infraorbital nerve due to lack of objective evidence supporting moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for the claimed left hand and right hand disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's STRs do not show any in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. Therefore, service connection cannot be established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and his peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was not incurred in or caused by active military service. His skin disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea were also not supported by evidence showing they were related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities has been rated at 40 percent, but not higher, throughout the period of appeal.