Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities, and the Board dismissed these claims as a result.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and other issues are being remanded due to errors in the duty to assist. Specifically, the AOJ did not inform the Veteran that a VA Form 21-4142 was invalid and therefore unable to be processed. Additionally, new opinions are needed regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension.

Major depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and hypertension have been granted service connection.,Alcohol use disorder is remanded for a VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and/or bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy or obesity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with IVDS, left lower extremity neuropathy, and left foot peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the inadequacy of the July 2017 VA examination. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to service and if they are aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left ilioinguinal neuropathy and left sural sensory polyneuropathy, finding that the additional disability was not proximately caused by VA's carelessness or negligence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a neurologist regarding whether his service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy 'precludes locomotion' without the aid of external assistive devices.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted, and his increased rating claims for diabetic neuropathies have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to outstanding records and new VA opinions regarding service connection for chronic right leg pain.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to herbicide exposure, as they are unclear whether the Veteran was exposed to qualifying chemicals during his confirmed service in Guam from March 1965 to August 1966.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is granted. The appeal is allowed to that extent only, and the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sensory motor polyneuropathy, finding that the Veteran's condition is at least as likely as not incurred during his service in Vietnam due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates due to procedural issues.,The Veteran's neck disability is being reviewed as it may be related to a pre-existing condition aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. Service connection is granted for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, back condition, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, is denied for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. The evidence does not show the need for regulation of activities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and its relation to service, herbicide exposure at Camp Lejeune, or contaminated water.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, heart disability, kidney disability, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, hyperlipoproteinemia, prostate disability, sinus disability, scotoma, and respiratory disorder are all remanded for further development.,Service connection is being remanded for the Veteran's heart disability, kidney disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, hypertension, hyperlipoproteinemia, prostate disability (benign prostatic hypertrophy), sinus disability (allergic rhinitis), scotoma, and respiratory disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's idiopathic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is related to service, including Agent Orange exposure, and if it is secondary or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.