Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has determined that the case should be remanded for further development, including VA examinations to clarify the nature of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and their relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left total knee replacements, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and sleep apnea were not shown to be related to his military service. The Board found that he did not have a current eye disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of both legs have been denied as the evidence does not show that the disability warranted higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities) do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions alone do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current polyneuropathy of the lower extremities is not due to his service-connected prostate cancer or radiation treatment, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran does not have PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disability, depressive disorder NOS, is not related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence shows that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and PTSD are rated at their current levels.

The Board finds that service connection for peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is warranted, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and associated peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU are met.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities were denied. The VA examiner found that the condition was manifested by sensory motor symptoms more nearly approximating disability tantamount to moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve since September 24, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between his claimed conditions and active service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to cardiovascular or lung disorder, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's symptoms of abnormal kyphosis from March 5, 2008 to May 30, 2011 met the criteria for a 20% evaluation.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for residuals of cyst removal from the left chest was granted. However, he is not entitled to a higher rating or separate ratings for his nerve injury and scar.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that her Scheuermann's kyphosis and/or defect of the posterior elements of S1 pre-existed service. The other back disorders were not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for peripheral neuropathy of his right and left upper extremities, finding that there was no evidence of moderate incomplete paralysis of the median nerve in either arm.

The Veteran's claim seeking an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability evaluation is dismissed as he cannot receive such without showing clear and unmistakable error in the final rating decisions.

The Veteran's hypertension, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of each lower and upper extremity, diabetic gastroparesis, and angina are rated as 70 percent disabling combined. The RO has granted service connection for these conditions.