Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased evaluations has been granted. He is now service-connected for erectile dysfunction, hypertension (presumptive), GERD, peripheral neuropathy of the arms, allergic rhinitis, and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claims for muscle atrophy, a left leg disorder, and a left knee disorder have been withdrawn.,Service connection has been established for coronary artery disease as secondary to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange).,Service connection has been established for diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange).,Service connection has been established for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity as secondary to diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions include coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension and a bilateral eye condition (claimed as vision impairment) was dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for diabetes, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy were all denied. The appeal for TDIU was granted.

The appeal regarding non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is dismissed. Initial ratings of 40 percent are granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, but no higher. The appeal regarding a biopsy scar is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 30, 2014.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 5, 2002 for the grant of SMC based on housebound criteria. The Veteran is also granted SMC based on need of aid and attendance from February 1, 2005.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment from August 5, 2002 to June 22, 2008. From February 1, 2005 he was in need of regular aid and attendance due to an inability to complete activities of daily living and manage finances.

The Board has remanded the cases for further adjudication due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset of peripheral neuropathy in service or its relation to radiation exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Pink at Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base and Clark AFB in the Philippines.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death, as they have no jurisdiction to adjudicate claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and whether he served in the Republic of Vietnam under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. The claims will also be reviewed for secondary service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities due to a withdrawal by the Veteran's representative. The appeals for diabetes and Parkinson's disease are remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type two, hypertension, and renal disease are granted service connection. His bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also granted service connection. The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndromes have been granted increased ratings.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as these conditions are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of more than mild or moderate incomplete paralysis prior to July 27, 2015 and from then on.

The Board denied service connection for ITP, BLE neuropathy, bone marrow abnormalities, and ovarian cancer as a result of exposure to chemicals at Fort McClellan. The Veteran was not diagnosed with any of these conditions during active service or for many years thereafter, and there is no evidence of direct exposure to toxic chemicals.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and insufficient examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral feet as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus is pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents and toxins, including DMII, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and hysterectomy. The claims are being reviewed again as there is insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure at Fort McClellan.

The Board has determined that the previous remand instructions were not followed and requires a new VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for bilateral hand conditions, including vasospastic arterial disease/Raynaud's disease and polyneuropathy/peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those involving diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The main issue is whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral vascular disease, but has remanded the issues of service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and retinopathy due to lack of medical evidence.