Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that new examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected peripheral polyneuropathy and bilateral foot condition due to changes in their severity since the last evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. A TDIU has been granted, but an effective date earlier than December 15, 2014, for the peripheral neuropathy of his lower extremities has not been established.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right lower peripheral neuropathy, including residuals of immersion foot, based on the Veteran's in-service symptoms and treatment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service aboard USS America. The Appellant must provide further evidence or clarification.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder and bilateral leg pain due to lack of evidence showing the conditions are related to service. The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded as there were errors in obtaining unit records.,Service connection for heart, skin, enlarged prostate, erectile dysfunction, and sinus disorders is also remanded due to lack of evidence showing the conditions are related to service.

The Board granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam. The appeal regarding the timeliness of the substantive appeal was also granted.

The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities from June 3, 2008, to January 21, 2009.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining addendum opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including for sleep apnea, lung condition, arthritis, bilateral eye condition, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The appeals are pending further review.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure was granted. The petition to reopen the claim of prostate gland disability as secondary to diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to a lack of an examination. The Veteran asserts that his current conditions are related to in-service athlete's foot or prolonged exposure to cold/wetness.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left ulnar neuropathy and service connection for a left knee disorder have been dismissed.,An effective date earlier than June 24, 2013, for the award of service connection for left ulnar neuropathy has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to various service-connected conditions, including a higher rating for posterior fossa tumor ependymoma and left wrist neuropathy, as well as claims for earlier effective dates. The AOJ has remanded several of these issues due to procedural errors.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure, finding that the Veteran's service in the territorial waters of Vietnam was within 12 nautical miles of the shore.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hypogeusia, and numbness/pain in his upper extremities as secondary to his service-connected Hodgkin's disease. The appeals are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have not been fully developed, as requested VA examinations were not conducted. The case is being remanded to schedule these exams.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for blurred vision, vertigo, and neuropathy (including as secondary to a tumor of the right pelvic bone) are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The VA is required to provide new examinations that address the nature and likely cause of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and cataracts.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) are all granted. However, his claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. His claim for neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is found to be related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities due to a lack of clarity in the prior findings and need for additional development.