Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's service separation form shows he had continuous active service from January 5, 1961 to December 27, 1962. However, his service ended before the start of the Vietnam era and does not meet the criteria for qualifying wartime service as required by law.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have hallux valgus or symptoms of it in service, and there is no evidence linking current bilateral hallux valgus to service. The same applies to bilateral onychomycosis and bilateral foot neuropathy.

The Board found that the Veteran's current loss of feeling in his hands and feet, including peripheral neuropathy, is not related to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current arthritis, including sensory ataxia and polyneuropathy, was manifested in service and is related to his military service. Similarly, a chronic neurological disorder was also manifest during service and is considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for PTSD and left lower extremity neuropathy was denied. The initial rating of 30 percent for PTSD has been maintained, while the initial rating of 10 percent for left lower extremity neuropathy from January 22, 2009 forward is now at its maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is currently evaluated at the 20 percent rating, and the evidence does not show that his symptoms warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his active service. The other claims remain pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was not aggravated by active duty service. The claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied as there is no clear evidence of aggravation during service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment. The AOJ should readjudicate the claim after obtaining any additional evidence.

The Veteran's current mood disorder is found to be secondary to chronic pain associated with his service-connected orthopedic disabilities, including lumbar and cervical spine conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. His associated peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are each rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as his CIDP, are found to be proximately due or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, acting alone, require the need of assistance for daily activities such as hygiene and medication management. The Board finds that aid and attendance is warranted solely because of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is service-connected. The Board also found that the Veteran has peripheral neuropathy in his upper and lower extremities as a result of his diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, related to his diabetes mellitus, type II, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have not met the criteria for a higher rating during the appeal period. The Veteran's hypertension has also not been found to warrant an increased disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or maintain gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the award of TDIU benefits should be November 24, 2008, but no earlier.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dementia due to diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, cataracts, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted his claim for TDIU.