Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has determined that the appellant lacks qualifying service with the Armed Forces and is ineligible for any award of VA compensation benefits, including reopening a service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection claims for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, and neuropathy of the lower extremities are also denied as a matter of law.

The Veteran's left below the knee amputation (BKA) is rated as 60% disabling, effective January 11, 2007.,Hypertension is currently rated at 10%, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10%. The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted.

Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy from February 5, 2009 to June 13, 2012 was withdrawn prior to the Board decision. The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 100% since October 19, 2012.,Veteran's PTSD with MDD has been rated at 70% from November 6, 2007 to October 19, 2012. The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities was rated at 10 percent from March 19, 2003. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and provide the Veteran with examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his service-connected back condition was granted, with the disability rated at 50 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral diabetic retinopathy with history of cataracts, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. Service connection was denied for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, lung disorder (bronchitis and asthma), and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The maximum schedular rating of 20 percent was assigned for diabetes mellitus, which is the highest available under VA regulations.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, with separate ratings of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the left and right lower extremities, as well as a separate rating of 10 percent for diabetic nephropathy. The Veteran's hypertension has not been found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a chronic neurological disability of the right upper extremity causing finger numbness, diagnosed as peripheral neuropathy.,There is no evidence of scars on the upper back. The Veteran's GERD produces occasional symptoms but does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for bilateral non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy with legal blindness, right hip disability, and skin disability. The VA will provide a new examination and obtain any necessary medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and opinions regarding specific diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Veteran and his representative have withdrawn their appeals for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's right lower extremity neuropathy is rated at 20 percent prior to September 15, 2015, and 30 percent effective that date.,The Veteran's left lower extremity neuropathy is rated at 20 percent throughout the appeal.

The Veteran's left shoulder, right knee, and bilateral hand numbness disabilities have not been shown to be related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including post right knee arthroplasty and degenerative disc disease at L4, L5, and S1, render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the VA examiners have found no such condition related to his military service.