Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hand and forearm peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if his conditions are related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to unresolved issues regarding his exposure to toxic chemicals during service and verification of his reserve service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and neuropathy have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The conditions are related to military service exposure.

The effective date for the grant of service connection for a left knee disorder, PTSD, type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremity, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss is denied.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for chronic left hand, right hand, and both feet disorders, attributing them to non-service-related causes.,No evidence of a chronic condition was found in the Veteran's service records.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as the evidence did not support his contention that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD was granted effective February 3, 2010.,Claims for increased ratings for DDD and DJD of the lumbosacral spine, right lower extremity compression neuropathy, and left lower extremity compression neuropathy were denied as it is not factually ascertainable that these conditions increased in severity within a year of April 11, 2012.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is related to service and has been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a neck disorder, upper extremity neuropathy, foot disorder (right foot and right ankle disorders), right knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as sleep disturbances), and migraine disorder are remanded.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as these new and material evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims. Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus type II due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded four cases involving peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to new evidence indicating a possible worsening of symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, gout, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for neuropathy related left foot drop was granted, effective May 10, 1994. The low back disorder claim was not found to have clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to uncertainty regarding his claimed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Board requests additional information from the Veteran and seeks verification of his alleged service in Thailand or a half-day layover in Saigon, Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed low back disability and related conditions. The Veteran must provide additional medical evidence or obtain releases, and a new opinion is needed on the etiology of his low back disability and its relationship to other disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney cancer was reopened and granted. The claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and a throat condition were remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left ulnar entrapment neuropathy at the elbow, finding that it is related to a nerve injury sustained during active service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis has been granted.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded.,Service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are also being remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy remains pending, with the Board requesting an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for essential tremors and polyneuropathy, including as due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ did not obtain a VA medical opinion regarding these conditions.