Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy is reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. The case is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's condition is related to his in-service exposure to diesel fumes or his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has found the VA examination inadequate for adjudication purposes and requires a new one to determine if the Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy conditions are etiologically related to his active military service, including as due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's metastatic right tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma is granted as service connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/hiatal hernia and trigeminal and hypoglossal cranial neuropathy are secondary to his metastatic right tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma, which is also service-connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's metastatic right tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/hiatal hernia, and trigeminal and hypoglossal cranial neuropathy as secondary to his cancer is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any pancreatitis with neurological residuals from a Whipple procedure.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, ankle disorders, diabetic neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted.,Remaining issues of service connection are remanded: low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, chronic skin disorder, OSA, hypertension, migraines, diabetes, and CFS.

The Veteran's scars, superficial and non-linear, associated with IVDS and herniated nucleus pulposus, L5-S1 have been granted a 10 percent rating from June 2, 2015 to May 30, 2018.,Service connection for female sexual dysfunction has been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected scars, neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and IVDS and herniated nucleus pulposus, L5-S1 are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and left ear hearing loss have been granted. The claim seeking an earlier effective date for PTSD has been dismissed.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left eye disability due to incomplete medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for Diabetes Mellitus and Erectile Dysfunction due to outstanding records not being obtained.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and various peripheral neuropathies as well as PTSD have been granted. The Veteran is also receiving a higher initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate September 2021 VA opinion, and a new examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and dengue fever residuals are being remanded due to the receipt of additional VA clinical documentation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ulnar nerve neuropathy, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected right wrist tendonitis.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claims for service connection for neurological conditions of the right and left lower extremities, which were previously denied. The Veteran is advised that his symptoms may be related to his service-connected radiculopathy but also includes a burning sensation between his shoulder blades and arachnoiditis-like sensations in his calves.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, to include as secondary to PTSD, is denied.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches and tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate examination in the August 2016 VA examination.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy is remanded due to inadequate examination in the July 2019 Board remand.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted, with the condition presumed to be related to his exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Vietnam.

The Board has ordered the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, claimed as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), to be remanded due to new evidence indicating potential exposure to nerve agents during the Veteran's Gulf War service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating determinations related to testicular cancer, peripheral neuropathy, PTSD, and TDIU prior to November 17, 2016. The decision was made due to a withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran through his attorney.

The Board has vacated the April 14, 2020 decision denying TDIU benefits due to failure to defer a decision on the issue until OSA was assigned a disability rating. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's right ulnar neuropathy and its relationship with his noted epicondylitis.