Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for early onset peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, finding no evidence of a current disability and noting that there is no competent or credible evidence of continuity of symptoms. The claim was based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide, chemical, and/or biological agents during service. The claims will be reviewed again with this information.

The Veteran's high cholesterol was not found to be a disability for VA compensation purposes.,Diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands and feet were not service-connected as they did not manifest during active service or within one year of separation, nor are they causally related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for upper extremity conditions, and only granted a 20 percent rating for lower extremity conditions from December 3, 2015.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus are granted service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents. The peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is also granted as secondary to his diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right leg peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus claims should be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is granted. His coronary artery disease, with hypertension and diabetic nephropathy, is rated at 30 percent effective August 31, 2010. A separate compensable rating for his hypertension is denied. The award of service connection for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is granted, but a separate initial rating prior to December 11, 2012, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity is denied. A compensable initial rating for diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at 80 percent combined, but the Board finds that they do not render him unemployable due to his education and work experience. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder has been reopened and granted. The right foot metatarsalgia with pes planus and degenerative joint disease is rated at 20 percent.,Right hip replacement, left wrist cyst secondary to service-connected disabilities, lumbosacral strain, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy with sciatic nerve involvement of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy with external cutaneous nerve involvement of the left lower extremity are all remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine was denied due to lack of evidence showing a link between his current condition and military service. The claim for PTSD has been reopened, but not granted as there is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred.,The Veteran's claims for left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, conjunctivitis, sinusitis, tinea pedis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were all denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred during or related to his military service.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for peripheral and polyneuropathy was granted, with secondary service connection established.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction due to service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy was also granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic cystitis, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, a disorder of urethra (urethral stricture and meatal stenosis), heart disability (hypertensive heart disease), cataracts, and skin disorder (dermatophytosis). The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, diagnosed as coronary artery disease, is related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities is currently rated at 10 percent, and higher ratings are not warranted.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve in both lower extremities is currently rated at 10 percent, and higher ratings are not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left upper extremity and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right lower extremity and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to service-connected disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional investigation regarding the Veteran's service in Vietnam, exposure to Agent Orange, and claimed stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The appeal is dismissed for the higher rating claim of ischemic heart disease. The neurological disorder and peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess his ability to work given his service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and peripheral neuropathy.