Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and grants TDIU with an effective date of January 28, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if there have been frequent periods of hospitalization or marked interference with employment due to his peripheral neuropathy. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, peripheral neuropathy (upper and lower extremities), and vertigo are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing their onset during or within one year after service. The Board also noted that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to herbicide exposure.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed heart condition, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as these conditions are not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for post-operative residuals of mandibular prognathism and malocclusion, claimed as scars of the face and neck. The Veteran testified during his July 2017 Travel Board hearing that he experienced symptoms such as painful, itchy scars on his face and neck, a burning sensation, and choking sensations since his in-service surgery to correct his mandibular prognathism and malocclusion.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to have aggravated his currently diagnosed neurological disability of the bilateral upper extremities, including carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy. As such, the Board grants service connection for these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not related to active duty service or due to an undiagnosed illness. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a qualifying chronic disability associated with Gulf War service and thus, the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 are not for application.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 14, 2015. As of December 14, 2015, the Veteran has been assigned a 100 percent disability evaluation for PTSD and an award of SMC. The appeal is dismissed as the issue of TDIU is moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities is not related to service or caused by his service-connected meniscus tear of right knee and early degenerative joint disease, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's conditions, including diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disability are service connected. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have chronic balanitis, and his stroke was not caused by asbestos.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the evaluations for diabetes mellitus, type II, with diabetic retinopathy and erectile dysfunction, as well as left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left hand disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the claim. The left hand numbness is found to be related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left elbow ulnar neuropathy is service-connected as it was incurred during his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is service-connected and rated at 20 percent. Service connection for hypertension has been granted, but an effective date prior to December 19, 2010 is not warranted. A TDIU was granted prior to August 6, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's injuries, including his lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, residuals of a fractured skull, traumatic brain injury, headaches, vertigo, neurological condition affecting bilateral lower extremities (claimed as pain and muscle spasms), neuropathy of upper extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) are due to his own willful misconduct. As such, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The case will also be reviewed to determine if service connection can be established for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities to his active duty service, or secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD). The claim for service connection is denied.