Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in its October 2020 decision regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy. The Joint Motion agreed that a medical opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The issues of service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as a bilateral eye disability (retinopathy and glaucoma), are remanded.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from January 1, 2021 onward due to his service-connected disabilities. However, the TDIU claim for the period March 19, 2012 to November 24, 2019 is denied as he had substantially gainful employment during this time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals for the left eye, right wrist, right foot, and left foot conditions. The remaining issues of service connection for left elbow disability, right knee disability, and left ankle disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected right great toe disability and left finger median nerve neuropathy have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy resulted in moderate incomplete paralysis, and a rating of 30 percent is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The decision on whether these conditions are related to service is pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination reports and the need to consider additional evidence provided by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and evaluation due to evidence of potential worsening of the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and newly diagnosed diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to a denial of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, basal cell carcinoma, chloracne, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The appeal regarding erectile dysfunction was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right and left foot neuropathies, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his in-service complaints or exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has denied service connection for circulatory or vascular disability (claimed as peripheral vascular disease) and eye disability (claimed as diabetic retinopathy). The issue of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the hands is remanded.

The Veteran's gunshot wound, left foot with Muscle Group X sensory residuals is currently rated at 30 percent and the issues regarding scar associated with the gunshot wound are also denied. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent. His right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is not higher than 30 percent, while his left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is not higher than 10 percent.,The Veteran's PTSD and TDIU issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and the determination of a rating for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus from September 20, 2021. Service connection for bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is granted from March 28, 2018.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury due to new and material evidence. The claims for bilateral foot disorder and right knee condition are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of verification regarding herbicide agent exposure during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, finding that there is no current diagnosis and no evidence linking it to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, to include as due to herbicide agent exposure and service-connected type II diabetes mellitus (DMII), have been denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected type II diabetes mellitus (DMII) has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, right and left upper extremity neuropathy due to lack of a current diagnosis. The case must be returned after further development.