Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the adequacy of the VA examiner's opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy aggravated his traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's bilateral hip DJD and kidney disability have been granted service connection. The heart disorder, RLE neuropathy, and LLE neuropathy claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service due to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus II, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address the etiology of the Veteran's neurological impairments, specifically carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral median nerve mononeuropathies, and/or cervical radiculopathy. The claims are not currently granted as service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to August 30, 2013 has been dismissed as the matter was resolved in favor of the Veteran by an October 2023 Board decision that granted a TDIU and SMC from July 12, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to diabetes, and low back disability secondary to a service-connected neck disability.,The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of lymphocytic leukemia and non-arteritic ischemic anterior optic neuropathy due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims related to hypertension, kidney disorder, bilateral eye disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's exposure to helicopter emissions is considered in these cases.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Upper Extremity, and Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Upper Extremity. The decision stated that OSA was not incurred in service and is not proximately due to, aggravated by, or the result of a service-connected disability. For PN, RUE and LUE, there were no current diagnoses found.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date earlier than January 15, 2010 for the award of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peroneal and tibial nerves, associated with herbicide exposure, as well as his requests for a higher disability rating and TDIU have been dismissed from the legacy appeal system due to his opting into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder disorder and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity are being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous Board remand directives. Another remand is required to obtain a retrospective opinion on the severity of the disabilities during flare-ups, as well as the date of onset of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both feet and sexual dysfunction, and remanded the claim for shortness of breath. The decision is based on a lack of diagnosed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy is being remanded for further evaluation as the current evidence does not sufficiently address all nerves impacted by his condition.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of all issues related to diabetes, bilateral upper extremity polyneuropathy, bilateral lower extremity polyneuropathy, and erectile dysfunction. The Board dismissed the appeal due to this request.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia/lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with anemia, and diabetes mellitus were granted secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The effective date of these grants is August 10, 2022.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia/lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with anemia, and diabetes mellitus were granted secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The effective date of these grants is August 10, 2022.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia/lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with anemia, and diabetes mellitus were granted secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The effective date of these grants is August 10, 2022.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia/lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with anemia, and diabetes mellitus were granted secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The effective date of these grants is August 10, 2022.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia/lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with anemia, and diabetes mellitus were granted secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The effective date of these grants is August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy is being remanded for further evaluation as the current evidence does not sufficiently address all nerves impacted by his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both the right and left lower extremities, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the severity of his peripheral neuropathy throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected. The Board also found that his myasthenia gravis, which was presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents in Korea, is service-connected.