Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all pending appeals, including the ones related to PTSD, dermatosis, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and chronic bronchitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed right lower extremity neurologic disorder, including whether it is related to service or a service-connected disability. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating for left lower extremity neuritis must also be addressed.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was caused by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and is therefore granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy, left foot as secondary to the service-connected disability of stress fracture of the left 3rd and 4th metatarsals is dismissed because a September 2016 rating decision already granted service connection for the same condition under a different theory.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral lower extremity disorder, including peripheral neuropathy and vascular disease, caused by the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and PTSD. The Veteran was also granted a 70 percent rating for his PTSD.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not shown to be related to service, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable between November 16, 2009, and January 18, 2011.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board found that there is no evidence of peripheral neuropathy or radiculopathy in the Veteran's upper or lower extremities, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the aid and attendance rate due to his blindness, which requires regular assistance from a spouse.,Service connection for loss of use of the left elbow is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetic nephropathy.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have not been rated higher than noncompensable levels.

The Veteran is granted initial ratings of 20 percent for sciatic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities.,The Veteran's femoral peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective from October 16, 2013. Prior to this date, his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a compensable rating for a scar have been withdrawn.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, impotency, skin rash, sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include as due to herbicide exposure, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection on a presumptive basis and concluded that there is no positive association between herbicide exposure and early-onset peripheral neuropathy. For his PTSD, the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent was also denied as the competent medical opinion indicated that the Veteran's current condition is not related to service, including as a result of Agent Orange exposure. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The back disability claim is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower right and left extremities has been rated as 10 percent disabling since April 2010, with no higher ratings granted. The Board finds that a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted prior to November 16, 2012 for either extremity.,Beginning November 16, 2012, the Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy has been rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right heel disability is not related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for a right foot or heel disability is denied.

The Veteran's spine disability is rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The evidence does not support an increased rating due to unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.,Service connection has been denied for MDD with PTSD symptoms as there is no current diagnosis and the Veteran's symptoms are attributed to post-service factors.