Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting TDIU.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and a TDIU rating of 60% has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy of his lower extremities is not caused by or related to his active duty service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and his peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran's symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as there was no evidence of in-service injury or exposure to herbicides. The preponderance of the evidence showed that these conditions were not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding potential exposure to nerve agents and other chemicals during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, claimed as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, is being remanded due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions and need for additional examination.

The Board denied presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus and all secondary conditions, finding that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and thus was not presumed to be exposed to Agent Orange. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims have been granted, with a rating of 30 percent for his left forearm muscle injury and an initial compensable rating for his left forearm scarring. The upper left ulnar nerve neuropathy is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for further development and review, including verification of exposure to chemicals in service that may be related to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease s/p stent placement, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Veteran requested to withdraw the issue of entitlement to service connection for left leg disability, other than peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities renders him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and his initial ratings for both right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, Parkinson's disease, and peripheral neuropathy are denied as there is no evidence of service connection or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and therefore, service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are being remanded due to potential in-country service in Vietnam, need for additional medical examination, and review of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 30% rating for service-connected painful scars on his right wrist, left 4th toe, and medial forearm is denied as there was no pending claim or documented evidence of multiple painful scars prior to May 27, 2010.