Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records and examining the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The prostate cancer and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy claims are denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causation. The PTSD claim is remanded due to lack of supporting evidence.

The Veteran's CAD and DM are granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure.,Peripheral neuropathy in both feet is granted as secondary to service-connected DM, while nerve damage in both legs remains pending due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding these claims, thus granting reopening of the claim. Service connection is also granted for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. However, the Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, right upper extremity and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right CTS, and left CTS as there is no evidence of these conditions during or immediately after service.,The Board also denied service connection for TBI due to lack of current diagnosis and credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.,Service connection was not granted for a nervous condition (diagnosed as depression NOS and PTSD) because there is no indication of a current disability related to an in-service event or disease.

The Board has denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities, as well as hypertension. The case is being remanded to obtain an updated opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for respiratory cancer, herpes zoster, peripheral neuropathy and gynecomastia as no new and material evidence was submitted to support these claims.