Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right distal ulnar neuropathy and residuals of fractures of the fourth and fifth metacarpals with arthritic changes do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and has found new and material evidence. The remaining claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and chronic lymphedema are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's military service and his diagnosed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral leg condition, diagnosed as peripheral neuropathy, is not due to any incident or event in active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to an 80% rating, but the Board finds that they do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed residuals of right hip injury, other than a scar, do not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of credible evidence establishing a medical relationship between his in-service injury and any current arthritis or neuropathy.

The Veteran claims additional neurological disability of the lower extremities, including spinal nerve damage and neuropathy, is due to a VA TURP procedure in January 2005. The appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities were granted, effective September 15, 2009. The diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent, the peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities at 20 percent each, and the TDIU claim was established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have currently diagnosed peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities or a vision disorder, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board finds that further development is necessary before a decision on the merits may be made regarding the Veteran's claim for TDIU. The case is REMANDED to obtain information related to the Veteran's Social Security claim and financial status, as well as clarify whether the Veteran still desires a hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gum disease was denied. The claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen claims for low back disability, residuals of head injury (other than headaches), right leg disability, sinusitis, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular disability, diabetic retinopathy, throat disability, and PTSD. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to May 25, 2004, or from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and a VA examination is needed to assess the impact of these conditions on his ability to work.

The Board finds that there is competent evidence tending to establish that anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, with sub-clinical symptoms of PTSD is related to service. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is found to be a congenital defect and the examiner opines it did not pre-exist service or increase in severity beyond natural progression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including type II diabetes mellitus and heart disability, were denied as the evidence did not show a link to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities with loss of sense of taste and smell and equilibrium, and Dupuytren's contractures is being remanded due to the unavailability of service treatment records and the need for further medical opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran was granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities with an effective date of July 10, 2007.