Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to type 2 diabetes, erectile dysfunction as secondary to type 2 diabetes, bilateral hearing loss, a right knee disorder, a left knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's service records show he served as a jet engine mechanic at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand. He contends that his exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange during this time is related to his current conditions, but there is no evidence of such exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to support his claims. However, the Board found no evidence of a current disability or a nexus between any claimed conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to additional development being needed, including verification of herbicide exposure and VA examinations.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine its etiology.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for diabetes mellitus, service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED), and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity. The primary issue is whether any service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated obesity, which in turn led to diabetes mellitus. If so, the examiner must determine if obesity was a substantial factor in causing ED and if it would have occurred without obesity.

The Veteran's right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include carpal tunnel syndrome, have been granted increased ratings of 40 percent each. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve has been granted an increased rating of 20 percent. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve and both lower extremity anterior crural nerves have not met criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking the condition to in-service noise exposure. The appeal for left ear hearing loss, gout, and peripheral neuropathy is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral vascular disease was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence supporting a higher disability level.,The Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to January 28, 2022, for diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity were also denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence showing such severity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU from November 5, 2015.

The Veteran's residual discectomy is granted at a 60 percent rating from June 24, 2007. Separate compensable ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities prior to May 8, 2008 are denied. A rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is denied. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted at a 40 percent rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, loss of feeling of the right hand disability, loss of feeling of the left hand disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active service.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral knees, bilateral ankles, and bilateral hands due to insufficient medical opinions in the record.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and/or neuropathy, finding that the condition is related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran experienced a traumatic stressor related to his combat service in Vietnam and has been diagnosed with PTSD, which is linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. A new examination is required as the previous VA examination was inadequate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a pulmonary lung condition. The decision found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen any of these claims.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for Parkinson's Disease, right lower extremity disability, and left lower extremity disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, and a lumbosacral spine disability due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent (Agent Orange). The Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable through no fault of his own. Further efforts to obtain these records would be futile. The Board also found that the Veteran was not exposed to Agent Orange during active service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is rated at 20 percent. His right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are each rated at 10 percent prior to October 26, 2018, and 20 percent thereafter. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to other service-connected conditions.