Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been found to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.,VA has determined that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that it is due to or aggravated by the Veteran's alcohol abuse resulting from his service-connected PTSD. The effective date remains February 5, 2010.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has not been manifested by the requirement of regulation of activities, and thus a higher rating is denied.,Right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8512 due to incomplete paralysis that is moderate.,Left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is also currently rated at 20 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8512 due to incomplete paralysis that is moderate.

For the entire rating period from July 17, 2004, the service-connected left ulnar neuropathy more nearly approximated mild incomplete paralysis, as it affected the left ring finger through the upper extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, diabetes mellitus type II, cubital tunnel syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and PTSD have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was reopened based on his assertion that he was diagnosed with diabetes during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected right fifth metacarpal fracture with limitation of motion, two painful scars, and mild ulnar neuropathy are each rated at 10 percent. The appeal is granted for these ratings.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with depressive disorder is granted, and he is assigned a 70 percent disability rating effective April 26, 2013. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the possibility of exposure to herbicide agents in service, which may trigger VA's duty to assist. Further development is needed to determine if he was exposed and whether his conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, head skin rash, jungle rot or fungal infections of the lower extremities, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for essential tremor or dystonia are dismissed. The Board finds that service connection is warranted for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for entitlement to a TDIU are met.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as it did not find a link between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate disability ratings for his RUE diabetic neuropathy.

The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for his service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other disabling pathology affecting these disabilities.,The Veteran's wrist disability has been evaluated under Diagnostic Code 5214, which addresses limitation of motion. There is no evidence of ankylosis at any point on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including depression, diabetes mellitus with nephropathy and erectile dysfunction, left lower leg neuropathy, and right lower leg neuropathy. The issues are about increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's high blood pressure is not currently diagnosed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral eye disability. The claims were not granted as secondary to a service-connected condition or due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy; as well as PTSD, render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.,For the entire appeal period, the criteria for a 50 percent rating, but no higher, for PTSD are met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left knee, cervical spine, psychiatric, and stomach surgery disabilities. The Board finds that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The RO reduced the Veteran's ratings for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy involving the femoral nerve from 20 percent to noncompensable, effective April 26, 2016. The separate 20 percent ratings for the right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy involving the sciatic nerve remain in place.