Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right leg conditions, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and VA treatment records. A TDIU rating will be determined based on the current service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right foot disorder has been rated as 30 percent disabling since September 27, 2008. The RO found that the evidence supported a higher rating for his right foot condition.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy was not found to be related to his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, including due to exposure to Agent Orange, is being remanded for further development and an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, or hypertension are related to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a disability of one or both eyes, including left eye optic neuropathy and bilateral cataracts with suspected glaucoma. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran is granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, but denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The VA examiner determined that the current right lateral femoral cutaneal neuropathy is not related to service and more likely caused by post-service onset.

The Board denied service connection for neuropathy and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, as well as a skin disorder due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, congestive heart failure, lung disability (to include lung cancer), eye disability, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral lymphedema of the lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service nor proximately due to any exposure to toxic fumes or chemicals in service.

The Board has determined that service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is granted as it is directly related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board found no evidence of post-polio syndrome in service or subsequent to service, and concluded that the Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his period of active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining opinions from the April 2011 examiner regarding whether his current right upper extremity disorder is related to a right wrist ganglion cyst noted at service separation or any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, finding that there was no evidence of this condition in the Veteran's medical records. The Veteran testified to experiencing tingling and occasional numbness but subsequent VA examinations found intact sensory function.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed and the case is being remanded to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus disability is currently rated at 40 percent, the highest rating available under VA regulations. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The claim to reopen his psychiatric disability has also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment. With the resolution of reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, the requirements for a TDIU have been met throughout the appeal period.