Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and left ulnar neuropathy.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 50 percent, and his left ulnar neuropathy is rated at 30 percent. The claim for service connection for hypotension has been denied.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the presumptive period for Agent Orange exposure, and denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy of his bilateral lower extremities is related to his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus. The claim for hypertension secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus will be remanded due to insufficient examination and incomplete evidence.

The Veteran's GERD is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides. However, the current disorder was not linked to his military service and there is no evidence of a link between other claimed conditions and service.

The Board has granted an initial 20 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, effective from September 23, 2002. The Veteran's radiculopathy is rated under DC 8521 (neuritis) combined with DC 5243 (lumbosacral strain), resulting in a total rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, and/or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. The criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance have been met.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran's claims are remanded to obtain additional medical records from Dr. Singh.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that he likely went ashore while stationed aboard his ship, thus qualifying for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Florida Hospital Flagler on October 25, 2009 is granted. The treatment was deemed necessary due to the urgency and severity of his symptoms, which included palpitations and shortness of breath.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and loss of use of both feet due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy was not proper, as there is no evidence showing the Veteran set foot in Vietnam or had exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service-connected status post excision left foot neuroma is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5284 for moderate disability. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms and impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting an addendum to the June 2011 examination report. The examiner is instructed to consider the Veteran's cold injury in service as credible and determine if his current bilateral lower extremity neuropathy is at least as likely as not related to that exposure.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 90%, which satisfies the percentage requirements for TDIU. However, his service-connected disabilities alone do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities was not present in service or manifested until years after service, and no currently present peripheral neuropathy is etiologically related to service, to include exposure to herbicides in service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability exhibited by upper extremity neuropathy and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Type II diabetes mellitus and related conditions, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and left knee instability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was incurred during his active duty military service and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left arm soft tissue injury, fracture of the left wrist, and ulnar neuropathy of the left upper extremity. The Veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, and his current conditions are not related to active service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of peripheral neuropathy in either the upper or lower extremities, and thus service connection could not be granted.