Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities due to presumed herbicide exposure during his military service. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to inadequate previous VA opinions and a need for further examination.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU from February 18, 2015. However, his earlier effective date claim on an extraschedular basis is remanded due to evidence suggesting he was unable to hold a job prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease (CAD), finding the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service at Takhli RTAFB. The peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is also found to be related to the service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2. The Veteran's upper extremity peripheral neuropathy remains under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed neurological disorders, specifically left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy. The Veteran is required to be provided with a VA examination to determine if his symptoms are due to a known clinical diagnosis or an undiagnosed illness related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the adequacy of a September 2015 VA examination for financial assistance and SMC determinations. The Veteran needs a new examination by an appropriate clinician to determine if he has permanent loss of use of one or both feet due to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical opinions and private treatment records. The issues of a compensable rating for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, increased ratings for sciatic nerve neuropathy, and entitlement to TDIU are all pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and its associated diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to inadequate examination findings and failure to address relevant in-service factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to conflicting opinions regarding its onset and relationship to his military service. The case is returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left wrist disability, including chronic sprain, possible disuse atrophy versus ulnar neuropathy, and possible SL tear, is causally related to his in-service injury during active duty. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that these conditions are caused by the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 30 percent, and his left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy, finding that his symptoms were attributable to his service-connected Morton’s neuroma.

The Board denied service connection for a dental disorder and the Veteran's basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The claims for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure. The claims are being returned for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional verification of his exposure to herbicide agents and further examination for heart conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathies are rated at 40 percent since January 26, 2015. The Board found that the symptoms more nearly approximated moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.