Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran is rendered unemployable as the result of service-connected disabilities and has been granted a TDIU.

Since October 12, 2006, the Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities has been manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis with symptoms including numbness, mild paresthesia and/or dysesthesias, moderate constant pain, reduced muscle strength, intermittent decreased or absent sensation, and intermittently increased DTRs. The Veteran is currently rated at 20% for each affected limb.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left elbow and left upper extremity neuropathy disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication of the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left foot disability, to include degenerative arthritis; and a low back disability, to include degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case in response to his disagreement with the initial rating assigned for bilateral hearing loss, and a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge will be scheduled.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spouse does not meet the criteria for an aid and attendance allowance as her disabilities do not render her unable to care for her daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right inguinal hernia, recurrent with sensory neuropathy, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, prostate gland disorder, bladder disorder, and hypertension are all related to his military service exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, kidney disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are not deemed to be due to VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar paravertebral myositis from October 31, 1994, and denied ratings higher than 10 percent for right leg S1 radiculopathy and left leg peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding no evidence that these conditions are related to his diabetes mellitus or service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if her service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing or maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from May 10, 2011 is granted. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, as the VA examinations and Social Security Administration records indicate he is capable of performing sedentary work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic peripheral neuropathy, to include as due to exposure to Agent Orange, was granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The Veteran does not have early onset peripheral neuropathy, so service connection cannot be established on a presumptive basis. However, the Board finds that there is no evidence of unremitting symptoms since separation from active duty and thus denies service connection for peripheral neuropathy.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have diagnosed peripheral neuropathy of either upper extremity and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy since May 29, 2012 was denied as there is no evidence of severe incomplete paralysis with marked muscular atrophy or complete paralysis.