Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple sclerosis. The Veteran's claims for varicose veins, lumbar radiculopathy, myelopathy, rhabdomyolysis, neuropathy with sciatica and paresthesias, chronic leg pain, transverse myelitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded as secondary to his service-connected multiple sclerosis. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, onychomycosis, nephropathy, bladder dysfunction, renal hypertension, peripheral neuropathies, and bowel dysfunction was clearly erroneous due to lack of objective evidence supporting these diagnoses.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and service. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as there was not sufficient evidence to establish that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy, but denied service connection for a neurological disorder other than peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Board granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, secondary to type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy of his lower extremities due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete analysis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II are not service-connected. The claims for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and right lower extremity have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, chloracne, type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure are remanded. The Board finds that VA's duty to provide a VA examination is triggered given the Veteran's assertions of herbicide exposure during his service in Taiwan and at Elgin Air Force Base.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the severity and duration of peripheral neuropathy in the right lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including polyneuropathy and diabetes mellitus, all claimed as secondary to hazardous environmental exposure at Fort McClellan. The development includes seeking additional service treatment records and confirming any exposure to specific toxins.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to address the severity of his cervical spine disability and its impact on his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the claim for TDIU due to the need for further examination and medical opinions. The issues of service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are also being remanded.

The Board denied ratings in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease, but granted a separate rating of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy as of September 12, 2014, and a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy as of June 4, 2019. The Board also denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia patella of the right knee with degenerative joint disease and for right wrist injury residuals.

The Board granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and remanded other claims for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as tremors (shaking of both hands), all secondary to service-connected multiple myeloma. Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis or etiology.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left shoulder condition, cervicalgia, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, vision loss/diplopia, nodules on vocal chords, sleep apnea, ischemic heart disease, chronic diarrhea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), skin tags of arms and thighs, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to allow for further development and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes, IHD, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, eye condition, headaches, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, heart condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), insomnia, and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeals for hearing loss, tinnitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and diverticulitis have been dismissed. The appeal seeking service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.