Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her lumbar spine disability, posterior tendonitis of the left ankle, and rupture of the right Achilles' tendon were denied. The maximum schedular rating available for these conditions was already assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PSD) has been granted. The remaining issues of peripheral neuropathy evaluations have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted. The previous determination that injuries sustained by the Veteran in a motor vehicle accident on or about April 14, 1982, were not incurred in LOD is considered final.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obesity, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, hypertension, and sleep apnea have all been denied as these conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the appellant's claims for service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine and sciatic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as his current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the service-connected ulnar neuropathy of the left hand, which is currently at its highest possible rating under Diagnostic Code 8516. The Veteran's symptoms and functional impairment are considered to be equivalent to loss of use of the left hand, warranting this higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings in any of her service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a stomach condition, and peripheral sensory neuropathy of both upper extremities due to lack of current evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, encompassing both lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal for higher ratings or TDIU remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent since September 29, 2002.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a comprehensive medical opinion addressing his employability due to service-connected disabilities and whether he is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to lack of credible evidence supporting the occurrence of the claimed stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is referred back to the RO. The claims of increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy and erectile dysfunction are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (primarily his peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities) have resulted in the permanent loss of use of both legs, as no effective function remains other than that which could be equally well served by below-the-knee amputation stumps with use of a suitable prosthetic appliance. Therefore, assistance for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment has been granted.

The Veteran's right saphenous neuropathy is found to be the result of an injury incurred in active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right inferior gluteal neuropathy has been awarded a compensable rating of 10 percent, effective from July 15, 2008. The RO also granted a noncompensable rating for his right gluteus maximus atrophy.

The Veteran's upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board grants this claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, and left lower extremity as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and the lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to May 8, 2008. The right hand neuropathy was initially rated at 10 percent but has been severed.

The Veteran's increased evaluation claim for coronary artery disease was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied as the service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.