Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, including a possible secondary theory based on in-service gunshot wounds and exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, with the Board finding that his symptoms prevent him from maintaining such employment.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as they were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left elbow neuropathy and TDIU are being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives.

The Veteran's heart condition, diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, kidney condition (secondary to diabetes), right upper and lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus have all been granted service connection based on evidence of herbicide exposure during active duty.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and skin condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral sensory neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is denied as there is no current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from COPD.,For DIC benefits, the criteria are not met as the Veteran did not meet the total disability rating requirement for a period of at least 10 years prior to his death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for asthma and remanded the claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeals are now pending before VA for further review.

The Board has decided that the VA examinations provided were inadequate and remands the case for further action, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician to address the likely etiology of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral lower extremity diabetic polyneuropathy due to insufficient evidence from previous examinations, and new evidence received since the last SSOC.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of lower extremity neuropathies and upper extremity radiculopathies, as well as his claim for service connection of depressive disorder secondary to service-connected disabilities. The issues have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity is granted as secondary to his service-connected stress reactions of the feet and ankles. The effective dates for other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's toxic peripheral sensory neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted as service connected. The claim for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy due to a failure to comply with previous remand instructions. The case will be returned for further development.

Service connection is granted for tinea pedis. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus type II, neuropathy of the left and right feet, arthritis of the hands, and hypertension.,The Veteran's diagnosed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inconsistencies in the record and for further development. The Veteran's RLE radiculopathy/neuropathy is associated with his back disability, but BUE peripheral neuropathy is not related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity, all found to be proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, left knee strain status post anterior cruciate ligament tear surgical repair, and right shoulder impingement syndrome status post-surgical repair.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and peripheral neuropathy, as these conditions are not among the presumptive conditions listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e). The Veteran is being asked to provide additional medical evidence or opinions regarding the relationship of his current conditions to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, seizure disorder as secondary to cervical spine disability, right lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to cervical spine disability, and left lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to cervical spine disability. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.