Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding no evidence linking the condition to military service or presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the extent of nerve impairment throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as his claim for an increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during active duty.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for various lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, finding that no prior claims were filed before February 5, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 12, 2017.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right peroneal neuropathy, finding that her symptoms are primarily manifested by severe pain and paresthesias, as well as moderate numbness, decreased strength and sensation, and impaired reflexes. The Board concluded that this level of impairment is more analogous to severe incomplete paralysis of the musculocutaneous (superficial peroneal) nerve.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Taxes Earnings and a VA neurological examination by an appropriate clinician to evaluate the current severity of his CIDP.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including polyneuropathy of the upper and lower extremities and prostate cancer, attributing these to presumed exposure to toxic chemicals at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a direct link between the Veteran's service and his current conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus with cataracts and retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, have rendered him unable to work since January 1, 2012. Effective November 21, 2012, the Veteran has been found in need of regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The rash claim is remanded.,Service connection has not been established for irritable bowel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy (presumptive due to Agent Orange exposure), or rash (secondary to herbicide agent exposure).

The Board denied service connection for right upper, left upper, right lower, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as well as asthma, Bell's palsy, and myelitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to the Veteran's military service.,There was no medical documentation of any of these conditions during service, nor did they develop within one year post-service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy, left and right foot fractures with metatarsalgia were granted effective from February 9, 2016. The Veteran is now rated at the maximum disability rating (40%) for these conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including evaluations and opinions regarding the Veteran's TBI, psychiatric disorders, ischemic heart disease, hearing loss, respiratory disorder, prostate disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and vertigo.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities was granted initial evaluations prior to March 28, 2015. The case is remanded for further development including a VA examination and consideration of increased ratings from January 12, 2012, to March 28, 2015.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issue of bilateral feet neuropathy secondary to a service-connected left knee disorder is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent, effective June 18, 2009. The Veteran's benign prostate hypertrophy is currently rated as 10 percent disabling and a separate evaluation for bowel impairment is denied.

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals, including those for bilateral hearing loss, bladder cancer, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and lumbar spine disability. The Board dismissed these claims as a result.