Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is found to be secondary to his service-connected lung cancer and liver cancer.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to include secondary to peripheral neuropathy and herbicide exposure is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection granted for upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes mellitus.,Service connection granted for lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes mellitus.,Essential tremors of the hands were not incurred or aggravated in service and are not related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for diabetes mellitus, bilateral foot neuropathy, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss as they were withdrawn by the Veteran during his October 2017 Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 28, 2006 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted. The criteria for TDIU were met as of November 1, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to ensure that his claims are evaluated with the most current and relevant medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine disability and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was granted, with a rating of 20 percent for each condition effective from April 21, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or causation for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not causally related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The claims of initial increased ratings for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities are remanded to consider separate nerve injuries and potential combined ratings.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected gunshot wound to the left upper extremity was granted, with a maximum rating of 20 percent prior to December 10, 2012, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. A separate evaluation of 10 percent was assigned for mild incomplete paralysis of the ulnar nerve.

The Board found that the Veteran was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to June 28, 2012.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, right eye cataract, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.,Service connection was denied for all four conditions as there is no evidence of their onset during service or within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracic spine disorder, right carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, diabetes mellitus, left carpal tunnel syndrome, glaucoma with cataract in the right eye and cataract in the left eye, as well as peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis for these conditions.

The Board found that the appellant was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 22, 2010, and thus denied an effective date earlier than this date for the award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and various lower extremity conditions are all granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has established a current disability, in-service noise exposure, and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is proximately due to his service-connected esophageal cancer treatment, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability, peripheral neuropathy in the left lower extremity, and painful scar on the left knee are rated at various levels. The current ratings for these conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is rated as 10 percent disabling, which does not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of relationship between the Veteran's left upper extremity disability and his service-connected DM, on either a causation or aggravation basis. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.