Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran was not found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to November 13, 2006. His TDIU claim is therefore denied for an earlier effective date.

The Board finds that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service and therefore, his claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, erectile dysfunction, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are presumed. Additionally, the evidence supports a finding of secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was granted. The appeals on the other issues were dismissed due to withdrawal by the accredited representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his bilateral shoulder injury and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his original claim. The decision also noted that there was no causal link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus with nephropathy and neuropathy, as well as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, were denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities, including DDD of the lumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus (DM), effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's current conditions were not found to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is caused by his service-connected diabetes, and therefore granted secondary service connection. The acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) claim has been expanded to include other diagnoses based on evidence of record.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, a left knee disability, a lower back disability, a sleep disorder, hypertension, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, acid reflux disease, a left ankle disability, a right ankle disability, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied as the evidence did not show he was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 8, 2011.

The Veteran's primary open angle glaucoma with optic neuropathy/nerve atrophy was not manifested during his active duty service or for many years after discharge from service, nor is it otherwise related to active duty. The claim of entitlement to a TDIU has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings in excess of 10 percent, each, for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities prior to February 17, 2016. The case is now remanded to determine an appropriate effective date for a 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is not related to service, including as secondary to his low back condition or due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, neck, and neurological disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left little finger neuropathy, and tinnitus, do not meet the criteria for a TDIU on a schedular basis.,However, the Veteran's parents are dependent on him for their reasonable maintenance, entitling them to additional compensation based on dependent parents.

The Veteran's PTSD renders him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as of March 11, 2008. His service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's left lower extremity paresthesia is not a residual of his service-connected brain contusion, and thus denied an increased rating for this condition.