Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, as they are not related to his military service. The peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have also been denied due to lack of a service onset.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are granted, with the latter being secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his lower back condition, right shoulder arthritis, migraine headaches, and periodic limb movement disorder have been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision. The claims are therefore dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, gout, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran seeks service connection for peripheral neuropathy in his left lower extremity, but the evidence does not show a current diagnosis of this condition.,Service connection is granted for renal cell chromophobe carcinoma with metastasis to the retroperitoneal lymph node (para-aortic mass), as secondary to the Veteran's previously diagnosed renal cell chromophobe carcinoma.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected as they are related to his service-connected heart disease and do not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Board has determined that a separate compensable rating for the Veteran's cardiac disability is warranted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board found no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides, and the Veteran's claimed conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending claims, including those related to skin condition (chloracne), kidney condition, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and heart condition (ischemic heart disease).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left foot conditions.

The Veteran's sciatic nerve and femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been rated as 10 percent disabling, but there is no actual improvement in his condition. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for spinal stenosis and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current disability levels.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy in the bilateral upper and lower extremities is related to herbicide exposure during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity popliteal nerve injury with foot drop is rated at the highest available rating without violating the Amputation Rule. His SFW scars are not compensably rated due to their static nature.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the claims of service connection for gastritis and increased ratings for sinusitis, chronic lumbosacral strain, right leg shin splints, left leg shin splints, and right elbow ulnar neuropathy. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board denied service connection for TBI claimed as brain trauma with stroke, migraine headaches, cervical spine disorder, upper arm neuropathy and radiculopathy, low back disorder, and GERD. The Veteran's disabilities were not shown in service or within one year thereafter, and are not otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's service.,The Board found that there was no evidence of a TBI during service and provided a negative nexus opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been rated at 40 percent since September 24, 2002. The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the entire appeal period.