Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees.,Service connection is also granted for migraine headaches as secondary to service-connected PTSD, fibromyalgia, and/or degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with spinal stenosis. Service connection is also granted for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (coronary artery disease, diabetes, small fiber diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities associated with diabetes, hypertension associated with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities associated with diabetes, and erectile dysfunction) were rated 80 percent combined and shared a common etiology. They are shown to have rendered him incapable of maintaining regular substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and addressing the propriety of reducing his PTSD disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is caused by his diabetes mellitus, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. However, the hypertension was not found to be caused or aggravated by his diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a separately ratable neurological abnormality associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability, other than the already service-connected radicular pain affecting the left leg.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was granted service connection effective April 24, 2008. The RO found new and material evidence to reopen his PTSD claim in May 2014, which led to the grant of service connection for an anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to assess his functional impairment due to service-connected disabilities and determine if he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PTSD alone, combined with other service-connected disabilities rated at 60 percent or more, meets the criteria for a TDIU rating from July 30, 2010. The Veteran is also eligible for SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) due to his PTSD alone.

The Veteran's diagnosed peripheral neuropathy with peroneal mononeuropathy of the left lower extremity was not shown to be related to his active duty service, including presumed exposure to herbicides therein, or related to a service connected disability. The Board found that the condition did not begin during or for several decades after his separation from active service.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy has been granted, with a rating of 10% for each affected extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for reopening a service connection for a skin condition due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. The case also includes claims for an increased rating for neuropathy and TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, which are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease (IHD), tinnitus, right leg neuropathy, left leg neuropathy, hemorrhoids, scleroderma, left eyebrow scar, and erectile dysfunction (ED) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, liver disorder, prostate disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with the effective date being November 15, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have been granted, with the presumption of exposure to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability due to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability did not have its onset during military service or is otherwise related to such service. The claim for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities was remanded and will be addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims currently on appeal, including those related to type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, PTSD, diabetic retinopathy, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional examination and medical opinion to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.