Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for melanoma, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary artery disease (CAD) due to potential exposure to contaminated water from Camp Lejeune or Agent Orange. The VA examinations did not provide sufficient opinions regarding these conditions.,The Veteran's hypertension is also being remanded as there are no adequate VA examination records available for review.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus with associated diabetic peripheral neuropathy required regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on this need.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 26, 2014 due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that her condition was not incurred in or due to her time in service and did not have an early onset. The Board noted conflicting evidence regarding herbicide exposure and concluded there was no probative evidence supporting a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability and secondary to his service-connected hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depressive disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and need further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and its relationship to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination to determine the severity of his right foot disability, as well as the etiology of his claimed TBI, neck, and nose disabilities. The claims for service connection are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied across multiple conditions, with the exception of a 30 percent rating for GERD granted.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed left and right upper extremity neuropathy, as well as his claimed right and left lower extremity neuropathy, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions. The Board also found no evidence that the current neuropathy disabilities were caused by or aggravated by the service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and medical opinions to address the severity of her PTSD, service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, gynecological disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and paresthesias tip of great toes. The claims are also remanded to determine if these conditions are related to military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the loss or loss of use of his lower extremities.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted a 40% rating effective June 22, 2022. The ratings for the upper extremities remain denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities and the femoral nerve in his right and left lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been shown to be of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for both the 38 U.S.C. § 1151 claim and the service connection claim for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including xerosis cutis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), intestinal parasite, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral elbow lateral epicondylitis are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The AOJ must consider this new evidence in their readjudication process.

The claims for service connection for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy remain denied as new and material evidence has not been received.,The claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains denied, with the Veteran's current disability rated at 70 percent.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica (now claimed as peripheral neuropathy). The most probative evidence did not show a link between these conditions and the Veteran's service.,The Board also found that there was no continuity of symptomatology related to arthritis of the low back since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than September 5, 2014 for the grant of service connection for actinic keratosis and for initial compensable rating for actinic keratosis are denied. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD and a rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve. The case is remanded for an addendum medical opinion regarding erectile dysfunction.