Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy is not related to his period of service and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis remains pending, as does the secondary service connection claim for a back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's liver disability, memory and cognitive disability, neuropathy in the bilateral upper extremities, and neuropathy in the bilateral lower extremities due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's conditions are presumed associated with this exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete treatment records.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at the maximum available (50%) due to very frequent and prostrating attacks.,Right upper extremity radicular neuropathy is rated at 20%, left upper extremity radicular neuropathy at 30%, right lower extremity radicular neuropathy at 10%, and left lower extremity radicular neuropathy (prior to July 16, 2016) at 20%.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a neurological disability involving the lower extremities, claimed as peripheral neuropathy, to include as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, was denied by the Board. The evidence did not support a finding that the condition was related to active service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with DDD.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities was rated at 20 percent prior to October 24, 2007 and has been granted a separate rating for diabetic neuropathy of the right upper extremity.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides, thus denying service connection for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful employment prior to September 16, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance was denied as he did not meet the criteria of being in need of regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that she is entitled to TDIU from February 2, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his full service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current status of his facial nerve disability and right knee disability.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and hypertension are all found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board grants these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected alcoholic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The Board also found that there was no evidence to support an earlier effective date for TDIU or DEA.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an addendum to a VA examination report and consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosed conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, plantar spurs, and flat feet, were not incurred in or caused by his period of active service, to include a 1981 cold weather injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right elbow and right elbow ulnar neuropathy were denied. The RO found that prior to June 29, 2016, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis did not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, and from June 29, 2016, it did not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent. For right elbow ulnar neuropathy, prior to October 1, 2015, the Veteran's condition was rated as mild incomplete paralysis (10%); from October 1, 2015, it was rated as moderate incomplete paralysis (30%).

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II is manageable by restricted diet and has not required insulin or regulation of activities. A rating of 10 percent for this condition is granted.