Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for diabetes mellitus and his right and left lower extremity disorders are unrelated to service. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his combined disability rating did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) during the relevant appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and quadriplegia from a back injury, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury.,Service connection for hypertension is denied because there is no evidence showing the condition began during service, and the one-year presumptive period has expired. The Veteran's claim based on ischemic heart disease as a pre-condition also fails.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not granted service connection due to lack of in-service onset or relationship to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease (myocardial infarction) is denied because the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 7006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, PTSD, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's ulnar neuropathy of the right elbow associated with arthritis is now rated at 50 percent, effective from May 3, 2016. The left elbow ulnar neuropathy associated with tendonitis remains at a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, leg and arm neuropathy, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are remanded. The propriety of the severance of major depressive disorder and a right shoulder condition is also remanded.

The Veteran died from colon cancer, which was not service-connected or related to any of his service-connected conditions. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye disabilities, residuals of inner head injury, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hyperlipidemia, low back disability, tinnitus, hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and a left thigh scar, have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities during the appeal period.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is rated at 70 percent disabling effective May 31, 2011. He was granted a TDIU based on PTSD from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, including as due to service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, claimed as gastritis, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and concluded that continuity of symptomatology was not established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and medical records.

The Veteran's ED is secondary to his service-connected diabetes. However, the Board finds that he does not have a diagnosis of congestive heart failure and his currently diagnosed aortic stenosis was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.,The Veteran's kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism, and polyneuropathy are all secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are not related to his active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus.,There is no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right ilioinguinal neuropathy was denied. The Board also remanded several other claims related to the same incident, including those involving cervical spine disorder, left elbow disorder, left forearm disorder, and left shoulder disorder.