Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral elbow disability and vitamin D and calcium deficiency secondary to service-connected gastric dumping syndrome due to further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claims for diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and depression remain denied as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure or a direct link to service.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection and rating for various conditions, including PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, lung disability, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the decision being finalized.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings are denied.,The Board has remanded several issues including the rating of prostate cancer residuals, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The maximum schedular rating for recurrent tinnitus (tinnitus) is 10 percent, and there is no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and reviewing the coroner's report. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's diabetes and coronary artery disease are due to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The left ankle arthritis is also secondary to his service-connected fracture left distal tibia and fibula.,Service connection for diabetes, CAD, left ankle arthritis, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is seeking service connection for left hand essential tremor, neuropathy of all fingers and toes (including carpal tunnel syndrome), and right foot drop. These issues will be addressed by VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and clarification of the Veteran's symptoms related to his left wrist ulnar neuropathy, including distinguishing between symptoms caused by arthritis and those caused by the ulnar neuropathy. The rating for the surgical scar is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the evaluation of the ulnar neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus II, prostate disability (including prostate cancer), essential hypertension, ocular hypertension, kidney disease, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or any other event, injury, or disease related to the Veteran's claimed conditions.,The Board concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his claims are based on direct service connection and not on presumptive service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus II, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are all granted as related to exposure to firefighting foam during service.

The appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder condition is remanded, and the claim for a 10 percent rating for his left upper extremity neuropathy is granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings are denied.,The Board has remanded several issues including the rating of prostate cancer residuals, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's application for benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) was remanded due to a lack of caregiver training and an inability to complete assessments within 90 days. The claim is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for acid reflux, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, residuals of left ankle fracture, and urinary incontinence secondary to a psychiatric disorder. The other claims remain denied as new evidence does not relate to these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability is manifested by hearing acuity no worse than Level III in each ear, resulting in a 0 percent rating. For the remaining issues on appeal, including left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, liver disability, thyroid disability, low back disability, and face spasms, the Board found that pre-decisional duty to assist errors were made and remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy affecting both lower extremities, a vestibular disorder, and diabetes mellitus, Type II. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right arm disability, finding that the evidence is not persuasive in establishing a relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.