Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the right and left legs are remanded due to potential herbicide exposure in Thailand. The AOJ will verify the Veteran's possible exposure, consider his MOS as a jet engine mechanic, and determine if it is least likely that his duties would have put him near the perimeter where he could have been exposed to herbicides.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability, lumbar spine disability, skin disorder, and tuberculosis (TB) were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. Continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disabilities are not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (PN RUE), left upper extremity (PN LUE), and bilateral lower extremities (PN BLE) were manifested with moderate incomplete paralysis of the median nerve, sciatic nerve, respectively.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, and thus remands these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's nerve disorder is related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The VA examiner will need to provide an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's nerve disorder.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions as secondary to his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the Veteran's progress with his diabetes and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating. The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is granted, effective March 18, 2014.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted at an 80% rating, effective January 15, 2021. The Veteran's major depressive disorder and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since October 9, 2017.

All service connection claims for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that a compensable rating for ED is not warranted, service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was denied, and service connection for prolapsed colon to include secondary to prostate cancer was also denied. The claim for ischemic heart disease was remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, arthritis, dyspnea, heart disorder, COPD, sleep apnea, GERD, and back disorder are not related to his active duty service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and related neuropathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 2, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's representative provided links to medical articles, and an addendum opinion is needed to consider these articles.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sciatic peripheral neuropathy is at least as likely as not related to his documented in-service cold weather injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

Your service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been granted, making these issues moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence suggesting his sinus disorder, cervical spine disorder, and peripheral neuropathy may be related to exposure to burn pits in Southwest Asia. The appeals are now pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues involving the service-connected conditions and evaluations, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to June 26, 2014. The decision grants an extraschedular TDIU for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, as well as the left and right lower extremities, all related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.