Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, left and right sciatic peripheral neuropathy are rated at 40 percent for the period from December 10, 2019, and thereafter. The Veteran also receives a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related peripheral neuropathy due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide agent exposure at Fort McClellan. The Veteran's representative provided additional information about potential chemical exposures during service, but a new medical opinion is needed to determine if these exposures are linked to her diabetes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for idiopathic axonal peripheral motor and sensory neuropathy of both lower extremities, finding that his condition began after service and is not related to service or his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vision loss disability, diagnosed as optic neuropathy, was incurred during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, and neuropathy of all four extremities, as well as other conditions like vocal cord cancer residuals and coronary artery disease, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU from December 1, 2014, to May 29, 2020, July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for severe axonal sensori-motor polyneuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that it is due to service.

The Veteran's eye disability and peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and consideration of whether increased ratings should remain denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate nexus opinions regarding whether the Veteran's peripheral nerve conditions are related to his service or service-connected conditions. The AOJ is instructed to secure updated treatment records and obtain an addendum medical opinion from a different examiner.

The Veteran's cause of death and diabetes mellitus type II are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to December 18, 2019.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, right shoulder dislocation, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are all rated at their current levels. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to determine if these conditions have worsened since the last evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to inadequate opinions provided in previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper, right lower, and left lower extremities due to toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune. The examiner is asked to address whether it is at least as likely as not that any of these conditions were incurred in or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine with sensory neuropathy and radiculopathy is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding etiology. The examiner needs to provide more definitive reasoning without relying solely on the absence of evidence.

The Veteran's left ulnar neuropathy was granted service connection. For the period prior to February 16, 2017, a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to potential herbicide exposure in Korea. The Veteran's unit is alleged to have been near the DMZ, but further verification is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) was granted, with an effective date of February 25, 2020.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and right lower extremity were both granted due to herbicide exposure during service.