Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

Entitlement to an earlier effective date of December 30, 2010 for the award of a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted.,For the increased ratings of 30 percent for cervical spine disability and 20 percent for right ulnar neuropathy, entitlement to an earlier effective date than February 15, 2011 is denied.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and remanded the remaining issues including diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction and hypertension; peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity; peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity; and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity. The TDIU claim was also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. A 10 percent rating is granted for a painful scar from left carpal tunnel release surgery, subject to further examination for right carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral eye disability, including open angle glaucoma of both eyes and ischemic optic neuropathy of the right eye, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates (earlier than March 30, 2004) for the grants of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and for CAD must be denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current state of the Veteran's non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and its residuals. The Veteran needs further medical examination to determine if his condition is in remission, what specific disabilities he may have as a result of the lymphoma, and whether any of these should be rated separately.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is currently rated at 50 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of occupational and social impairment. The TDIU claim was denied as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The appeal of the denials of service connection for various conditions due to herbicide exposure is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him incapable of securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including hypertension with kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and lumbar spine arthritis, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the combined effect of these disabilities is sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease is granted due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand, but remands for further examination on secondary service connection issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is rated at 20 percent, and he is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral neuropathy of the lower extremities is rated at 40 percent, effective February 16, 2017. Service connection for a heart disability (including chest pain and heart murmur) is granted as part of the claim for increase on neuropathy of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes and related complications rendered him incapable of securing and following substantially gainful employment, and the Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional records and verification of his reported flight onboard the USS ORISKANY.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities, finding that they are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to February 20, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. Additional development is needed to verify his reported exposures in Puerto Rico.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for disfiguring scars of the face, chin and back of the head due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are remanded for further development including a VA examination.