Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 8, 2010. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is separately rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction. The appeal regarding type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, an eye condition, hyperlipidemia, and obesity is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for VA examinations to address the claims of service connection for a breathing condition, skin condition, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy. The appeals will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left tibial motor neuropathy and whether it is related to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is currently rated at 20 percent, with no higher ratings warranted based on current symptomatology. The Veteran also has a separate compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and disability ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider his claims of service connection for various conditions, including prostate condition and peripheral neuropathy. The case will be returned to the Board after all necessary actions are taken.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 5, 2003.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, hearing loss, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran was not granted any of his requested benefits.

The Veteran's appeal was decided on multiple issues related to service connection, effective dates, and increased ratings for various disabilities. The claims were generally granted with some exceptions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus (DM) is service connected due to herbicide exposure, and his bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are secondary to DM.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a foreign body in the left arm with ulnar neuropathy of the left upper extremity have been evaluated as moderate incomplete paralysis of the left ulnar nerve, warranting a 30 percent evaluation. The Board finds that this evaluation is appropriate given the current manifestations and symptomatology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mood disorder with depressive features and left total knee replacement with mild peripheral sensory neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Veteran's right forearm neuropathy and acquired psychiatric disability were found to meet the schedular requirements for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability prior to May 12, 2016.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 29, 2016.

The Board found that the Veteran's current knee and nerve disorders did not manifest until decades after her active period of service, and the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that they are otherwise related to her active service or resulted from an injury incurred during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. The Veteran's osteophyte was also found not to be related to her service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, finding that it is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Board granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy affecting the right and left lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, with an effective date of October 9, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking it to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board found no evidence of peripheral neuropathy in service or within one year after separation, and the Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his military service. Therefore, service connection for peripheral neuropathy is denied.