Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as they are not related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy prior to August 31, 2020 are denied.,For the period beginning on August 31, 2020, a 10 percent evaluation is granted for each of the Veteran's upper extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure, as well as secondary service connection for these conditions related to his service-connected low back disability. The remand requires new medical opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's hypertension, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, right shoulder tendonitis, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right foot pes planus and metatarsalgia, and left foot pes planus and metatarsalgia are not service connected. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her low back disability, chronic sinusitis, left hip disability, right elbow disability, right arm injury with neuropathy, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, and PTSD due to incomplete or insufficient evidence. New VA examinations are needed.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left upper extremity and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, hepatitis C, bilateral lower extremity nerve/vascular disabilities (PAD), and erectile dysfunction due to herbicide agent exposure.,Specifically, a new VA examination is required for each issue to determine the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, and an eye disorder. However, the Board denied these claims as there is no evidence that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his presumed in-service herbicide exposure, including Agent Orange. The claims are related and will be considered together.

The Veteran's diabetes and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy were not found to be related to his active service or exposure to herbicide agents, leading to a denial of the claims.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service-connected due to a chronic condition that began within one year of separation from service. The cases for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric, low back, and neuropathic disabilities due to missing records from his active duty service. The Veteran attributes these conditions to in-service incidents.

The Board has remanded the cases due to missing VA treatment records, specifically a neurology consultation and EMG reports from August 2018 and January 2021.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied increased ratings. The Veteran was granted a 20% rating for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy since January 13, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including DM, prostate cancer, hypertension, CV disorder, PN of the upper and lower extremities, GU disorder, and skin disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions to address the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to May 4, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran had part-time employment before this date and his service-connected conditions alone did not prevent him from working.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for erectile dysfunction, renal dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and bilateral upper extremities, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to service or any presumptive exposure.,Service connection was also denied for a heart disability, including ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and defibrillator pacemaker. The Board found insufficient evidence connecting these conditions to service.