Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, which was granted in July 2010. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address his September 2009 informal claim for increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including examinations and clarification of opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed back condition and peripheral neuropathy. The claims will be re-adjudicated after this development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from October 25, 2004, forward. The initial rating appeals for the back disability and associated lower extremity neuropathies are remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy was not caused by VA fault in prescribing INH therapy for latent tuberculosis, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bronchitis, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for TDIU due to his combined rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has resulted in no more than mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve, including constant pain and occasional decreased reflexes and sensory disturbances such as feelings of burning, cold, tingling, and numbness. The Veteran does not have muscle atrophy or motor impairment.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy in both legs, affecting the sciatic and femoral nerves, has been rated at 20 percent since April 20, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need to consider herbicide exposure as a potential cause of his neuropathy.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities that had its clinical onset in service or within the first post-service year, nor is it otherwise related to service. The Board also determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy was not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with his lumbosacral spine disability are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities has been rated at 20 percent since April 30, 2012. The rating remains unchanged prior to that date.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current cervical spine, low back, bilateral hip, and upper extremity neuropathy disabilities and his military service. The repetitive lifting and handling of heavy objects during active duty are not considered to have caused or aggravated any of these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 and related peripheral neuropathy have been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that new evidence received since the prior final rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The Veteran's diabetes is related to his military service.