Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2017

The Veteran's initial 60% rating for coronary artery disease was reduced to 10%, effective December 1, 2012. The Veteran is now entitled to a 60% rating for this condition.

The Veteran's residuals of frostbite, including peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities, have been rated at 30 percent since the grant of service connection. The criteria for a higher rating are met.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his military service. The remaining claims of service connection for other conditions are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability with associated neurological impairment is rated at a single 60 percent rating, and he is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not present in service or within a year of discharge, and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. The Board denied the claims for diabetes mellitus, parathyroid abnormality, kidney stones, elevated calcium levels, hypertension, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypersensitivity to light as they were not shown to be due to herbicide exposure or any other basis.

The case is being remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between any current right hand or arm disability and service, as well as whether it was aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70% disability rating from January 28, 2010 to March 28, 2012. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities has primarily affected his radial, median, and ulnar nerves and manifested as an overall mild severity for all three throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective from March 9, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is service connected. The Board also found that the Veteran has other conditions related to his diabetes and remanded for further examination.

The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and posttraumatic stress disorder have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting SMC based on this need.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected conditions and secondary claims.

The Board finds that there is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities was caused by his active service, including presumed herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds this rating to be appropriate.,Effective March 16, 2009, the Veteran was granted service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy.,Effective March 16, 2009, the Veteran was granted service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy.,Effective March 16, 2009, the Veteran was granted service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy.,No effective date earlier than March 16, 2009, is warranted for left lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his peripheral neuropathy, COPD, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a comprehensive VA medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of in-service or post-service continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to June 27, 2012 is also denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following all forms of substantially gainful employment.