Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's daughter is seeking service connection for various peripheral neuropathy conditions and a right eye disability, all claimed as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA records.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right hands, left and right upper extremities, and left foot. The appeal was also remanded for further development regarding a low back injury.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy due to presumed herbicide agent exposure. Service connection was denied for onychomycosis, obesity, and GERD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea secondary to PTSD and Bilateral Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy secondary to Diabetes Mellitus Type II. The preponderance of evidence supports these findings.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to May 19, 2017 is remanded due to incomplete employment and education history provided by the Veteran. The Board requests that she complete Forms 21-8940 and 21-4192, and obtains her SSA records.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral vascular disease of the left lower extremity, and peripheral vascular disease of the right lower extremity as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for retinopathy is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for diplopia, right hand disability, and left hand disability are inadequate. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for diplopia, service connection for right hand disability (claimed as peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity), and service connection for left hand disability (claimed as peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity) are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, atrial bradycardia, intracranial subdural hematoma, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and loss of taste are being remanded.,The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's SCC and loss of taste are related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development and examination, as requested by the Veteran. The issues of initial compensable evaluation for service-connected DM and increased evaluation for PFB are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ear hearing loss, right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, cold injury residuals in both upper and lower extremities, and muscle atrophy in both upper and lower extremities due to incomplete development of evidence.,Additional medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.