Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities was 80 percent, as of September 2, 2010. The Board finds that the most probative evidence of record demonstrates that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a comprehensive VA examination and consideration of the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The TDIU claim will be readjudicated based on the results of this additional examination.

The Board granted higher initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that bilateral elbow disability is related to service-connected diabetes and granting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his combined disability rating is at least 70 percent. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right inferior alveolar nerve neuropathy with masticatory muscle myalgia is rated at 30 percent, reflecting severe incomplete paralysis of the fifth cranial nerve.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues include reopening service connection claims and seeking higher ratings for various conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records, particularly regarding his service-connected disabilities prior to January 19, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus warrants a 20 percent rating, but not higher. The claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction was previously denied and is now final due to lack of timely appeal. New evidence received since the denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his diabetes mellitus and its associated peripheral neuropathy, as well as any other residuals. Separate compensable ratings may also be considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability, diagnosed as tarsal tunnel and compression neuropathy, was incurred in service. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether this condition is related to an incident of service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's bilateral pes cavus to his active duty service and concluded that it was not caused or aggravated by any other service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral pes cavus is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated neuropathy in the lower extremities are rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The evidence does not support a rating in excess of this level for any period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to evaluate whether the Veteran has actual loss or loss of use of his right leg due to service-connected conditions, including neuropathy of the right lower extremity, arthritis of the right hip, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and ruptured right Achilles tendon. The examiner must provide complete rationales for all opinions expressed.

The Veteran's current diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to be causally and etiologically related to in-service herbicide exposure. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an additional claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the feet, which is inextricably intertwined with the SMC claim. The SMC claim will be reconsidered after this new issue is resolved.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging a comprehensive examination of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and neuropathy/sciatica of the lower extremities were denied. The Board found no evidence that these disabilities had their onset in or were related to service.