Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to herbicide agents, as well as his claims for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant. Additional development is needed to confirm the Veteran's alleged in-service TDY to Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of at least one hand or foot, nor does he have ankylosis of either hip. Therefore, he is ineligible for financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle with adaptive equipment.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy prior to May 26, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is presumed, but further clarification on the etiology of his cluster headaches, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and aggravation by coronary artery disease is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction and related neuropathy issues has been withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for residuals of right distal tibia and fibula fracture. The Veteran's disability is currently rated as 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5262, but a higher rating may be warranted based on the current severity of his disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, including as due to hydrazine exposure during active service. The case is being returned for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hydrazine exposure in service caused his diabetes.

The Veteran's application to reopen a previously denied service connection claim for PTSD was received on December 19, 2017. The Board denied the claim in January 2015 and found that there is no presumption of 'secondary exposure' based on being near or handling equipment once used in Vietnam.,Evidence submitted since the January 2015 decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's contentions regarding his alleged exposure to Agent Orange are identical to those previously addressed by the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. These conditions are presumed to be related to the Veteran's military service due to exposure to herbicides in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypertension have been denied. The effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains December 22, 2014.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's cervical strain is granted a 30% rating effective May 16, 2022.,A separate 30% rating for right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly compensation due to incomplete information regarding herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran is diagnosed with CIPD, but additional development is needed to determine if he was exposed to herbicides while in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU, SMC based on loss of use of his left hand, and SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete documentation of his periods of active duty, inactive duty training, and potential exposure. The RO is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records and provide addendum opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and SMC based on aid and attendance due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the severity of his diabetes and inability to perform daily activities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy and diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, prostate cancer, and hypertension are granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least approximately balanced as to whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Guam. Therefore, herbicide exposure is conceded. As the medical evidence establishes that he has CAD and prostate cancer, service connection related to herbicide agents is presumed. Service connection for hypertension is granted due to reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's NHL rating was reduced from 100% to 0% in October 2018, but the Board has determined that this reduction did not follow proper procedures. The case is being remanded for a new VA examination to evaluate all current residuals of his service-connected NHL.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding them due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.