Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to May 30, 2014.

The Board has found service connection warranted for peripheral neuropathy, gastrointestinal issues, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability. Service connection is denied for hypertension.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's neuropathy of the lower extremities, which may be related to his active service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is found to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents in service. However, there is no current diagnosis of arteriosclerosis obliterans.

The Veteran's vision loss of the right eye, neuropathy of the left upper extremity (claimed as loss of command, left sided neuropathy and weakness), cognitive disorder (claimed as cognitive disorder to include, but not limited to, attention, memory, loss of time, space, and aphasia), and an acquired psychiatric condition, to include anxiety and depression, are considered residuals of a cerebrovascular accident. The Board has determined that these disabilities were caused by VA treatment due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or some other instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and headache disability are not related to service, as they are considered a direct result of his own substance abuse.,Service connection for these conditions cannot be granted due to lack of evidence linking them to military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, and grants a TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his diabetes caused his peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not manifest until many years after service and is not related to an incident or event of service origin. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence reflects the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not have onset in service and is not related to any incident of service origin.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bladder cancer is granted due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange. His bilateral foot condition is also granted as it is related to his in-service symptoms and post-service treatment records.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for the establishment of service connection for various conditions, but these claims are denied as no new and material evidence was received within the appeal period.,The Veteran also seeks an earlier effective date for erectile dysfunction (ED), but this claim is denied as there was no pending claim or new and material evidence received prior to September 3, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in physical or mental incapacity that prevents him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. Further, the Veteran is not in receipt of a 100 percent schedular rating or in receipt of a total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's left wrist status post carpal tunnel release with median nerve neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, and the painful surgical scar of the left wrist is rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left wrist disability has been denied as there is no evidence showing that a higher evaluation is warranted based on the current level of disability. There was no clear and unmistakable error in the September 1992 rating decision, and the effective date for the separate 10 percent rating for left wrist tenosynovitis prior to September 13, 2012 has not been established.

The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve was rated at 20 percent effective June 3, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, Diabetes Mellitus, and Peripheral Neuropathy) have rendered him unemployable since February 9, 2009. However, the Board denied entitlement to Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) as no single disability has caused his unemployability.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeal for service connection for low HDL levels, chronic disorder of the gums, bilateral eye disorder, to include glaucoma; and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for HTN from October 27, 2010. The claim for service connection for focal sensory peripheral neuropathy of the left medial thigh has been granted. However, the Veteran's HTN prior to October 27, 2010 is not compensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is caused or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety reaction with depression and PTSD, specifically as the result of carbon monoxide poisoning from one or more suicide attempts. Given the favorable outcome in this decision represents a full grant of the issue at hand, there is no need for further explanation.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back strain with DDD and right sciatic nerve neuropathy had improved, warranting a reduction in their disability ratings from 20% to 10%. The reductions were effective May 1, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has granted service connection for a right eye disability and bilateral upper and lower extremity disabilities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service.