Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim will be adjudicated again after a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathies, Peyronie's disease, and other conditions, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his educational background and work experience as an administrator.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities, meet the minimum schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. For his right knee and right wrist conditions, further examination is needed to determine if they are related to service.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is found to be caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has granted a higher rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease with back strain, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, but denied a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in such service. The disability is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, right foot and ankle disorder, and bilateral ulnar neuropathy were denied. However, the Veteran was granted an initial rating of 10% for his service-connected left knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not require aid and attendance of another person, as his need for assistance is primarily due to his seizure disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy affecting the upper and lower extremities, as well as for anosmia, are being reopened. The claims for service connection for sores to the legs have not been established.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of peripheral neuropathy or gastrointestinal disability during service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of such disabilities at any time after separation from active duty. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing and obtaining medical records. The issues of TDIU and service connection for irritable bowel syndrome will be reconsidered in light of the new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a shrapnel wound to the left upper extremity at the elbow, Muscle Group V (minor) and neuropathy of the median and ulnar nerves of the left upper extremity have been evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate given the current clinical findings.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to unverified periods of active duty and inactive duty for training, as well as missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, as he is able to function normally without the requirement for such assistance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 10, 2009. The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's TDIU claim under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b). The case should be referred to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service for a written decision.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was determined to be July 22, 2009. The claim to reopen for dermatitis with vascular changes is not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.