Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have onset in service and is granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating for diabetes was not granted, chronic otitis externa did not warrant a compensable rating, the lumbar spine disability received an increased rating but remained at 20 percent, cervical spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, knee disorder, ankle disorder, kidney disorder (hypertension), heart disorder (hypertension), erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities were not granted service connection. The Veteran's diabetes was rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were rated at 10 percent prior to July 27, 2011, and January 16, 2014 respectively.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded to allow for extraschedular consideration of his service-connected right wrist disability, right upper extremity neuropathy, and the combined impact of all disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from March 1, 2009 to October 24, 2010 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a change in his vocational rehabilitation training program from actor to pharmacist due to the significant physical limitations caused by his service-connected disabilities, and the Veteran's refusal to pursue the goal of economics.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 50 percent prior to September 22, 2011.,From September 22, 2012, through January 7, 2014, and from March 1, 2015, through March 15, 2016, the Veteran was rated at 60 percent for his right shoulder disability following total shoulder replacement.,Since March 16, 2016, the Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 90 percent.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on his service-connected disabilities, including left arm brachial plexopathy, hypothyroidism, and erectile dysfunction, were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that there is reasonable doubt in favor of the Appellant, and service-connected radiculitis contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and diabetes mellitus, require regular aid and attendance due to his inability to perform daily activities such as bathing, dressing himself, preparing meals, keeping himself clean and presentable, and protecting himself from environmental hazards.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine and/or bilateral hip disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD, and the diabetes mellitus claim was not granted due to lack of in-service manifestation within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board denied reopening the claim for 1151 benefits and found no additional disability in the right lower extremity as a result of the December 1990 low back surgery.,The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity neuropathy was not aggravated by the December 1990 low back surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied both claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected recurrent left inguinal hernia caused or aggravated his current left hip degenerative joint disease, lumbosacral spine disability, and neuropathy of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board found no credible evidence of herbicide exposure or service in the Republic of Vietnam, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left sural neuropathy and left tarsal tunnel syndrome are rated at the maximum available rating of 10 percent. The Board finds no basis to grant higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities is not related to his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus and denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.