Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, dental condition, eye condition, and erectile dysfunction due to herbicide exposure. The decision is pending further investigation.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary for the claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's current diagnoses and service-connected conditions are being reviewed to determine if there is a relationship between his disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as well as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The reasons provided include lack of in-service injury or disease, no chronic symptoms during service, and no evidence of continuity of symptomatology post-service.,The Board also denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease based on the absence of a showing of continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board denied service connection for left leg and right leg neurological disabilities, as well as service connection for ulnar entrapment in the right arm and left arm. The decision also remanded issues regarding service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in previous VA examinations regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to his service-connected PTSD. The case is now returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for polyneuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability has been reopened and is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim.,Service connection for COPD was not established, as there is no current diagnosis of COPD in the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after his military service.,His hypertension was not service-connected because there is no evidence of onset during service and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that it is secondary to his service-connected heart disease.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper, lower extremities and left upper, lower extremities as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim for hepatitis C and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of Agent Orange exposure and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities due to herbicide exposure. The claims are inextricably intertwined with his diabetes mellitus type II claim, which is pending elsewhere.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities are granted, with a 20 percent rating prior to March 16, 2018 and a 30 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for lung problems (claimed as emphysema) is granted. The claims for peripheral neuropathy and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to the need to verify Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a nerve condition of the chest, arms, and back, chloracne, and epilepsy were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen any of these claims.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of audiometric findings meeting VA criteria for hearing loss. Service connection for tinnitus was denied based on a one-year presumption and continuity of symptomatology since service.,Service connection for a nerve condition of the chest, arms, and back and chloracne were denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions in service or related to service.,Service connection for epilepsy was denied due to lack of direct service connection based on in-service noise exposure, herbicide exposure, or continuity of symptomatology. Presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus), and tinnitus has been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim for bilateral hearing loss but is seeking further examination or opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for neuropathy, left lower leg and foot, status post shrapnel wound is remanded.