Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for residuals of rectal cancer, lung cancer, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy must be remanded due to inadequate development regarding potential chemical exposure in service.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple conditions, including cell lymphocyte deficiency, hypogammaglobulinemia, premature ovarian failure, asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, fibromyalgia, chronic laryngitis, muscle weakness, hypertension, cholecystitis, and basal cell carcinoma, all of which are related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, methanol, and phenol.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and polyneuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities (secondary to service-connected type 2 diabetes). Service connection for memory loss and syncope is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions as due to herbicide exposure, finding that there was no evidence of such exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, right upper extremity, and left upper extremity due to herbicide exposure and/or secondary to diabetes. Additional VA examinations are needed to address the Veteran's testimony regarding ongoing symptoms and the nature and etiology of his peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected essential tremors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that his current condition is related to non-service-connected degenerative disc disease/degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and diabetic neuropathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both his right and left lower extremities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for glaucoma, a heart disorder (claimed as heart attack with stents and congestive heart failure), hypertension, neuropathy, and a tumor in the knee. The evidence does not establish that these conditions began during or within one year of active service, are related to an in-service injury or disease, or are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus have been denied by the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot neurological disorder, other than his service-connected sensory neuropathy and denied his request for an increased rating for his service-connected left foot sensory neuropathy.

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

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities. The decision also noted that the Veteran's claims were not perfected for other issues.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is remanded for extraschedular consideration.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral chronic open angle glaucoma with bilateral nodular scleritis, MDD, depression (claimed as insomnia), bronchitis, migraines, cervical and lumbar back conditions, uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, right ankle condition, and DM are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for MDD, depression (claimed as insomnia), migraines, cervical and lumbar back conditions, uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, right ankle condition, and DM are remanded for VA examinations to determine their etiology.,The Veteran's bronchitis claim is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's migraines claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology.,The Veteran's cervical and lumbar back conditions claims are remanded for a VA examination to determine their nature and etiology.,The Veteran's uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, right ankle condition, and DM claims are remanded for VA examinations to determine their nature and etiology.,The Veteran's right ankle condition claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology.,The Veteran's DM claim is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction rendered him unable to work from August 4, 2014, through October 25, 2017. The TDIU claim is now moot as of October 26, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, upper and lower extremity peripheral vascular diseases have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity conditions have been granted a 60% evaluation, effective from January 1, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance with respect to whether the conditions are related to herbicide exposure during active service.

All appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals in April 2022.

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