Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities due to outstanding private treatment records not being obtained prior to adjudication.

The Veteran's lumbosacral dysfunction, right lower extremity neurological disorder (including peripheral neuropathy and sciatic dysfunction), left lower extremity neurological disorder (including peripheral neuropathy and sciatic dysfunction), and right hip disability are all found to be related to service.

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 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 service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and a kidney disorder, were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or direct service connection. The Board found that the current diagnoses did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vitiligo was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or otherwise related to it.,Her fibromyalgia was rated at the maximum 40 percent disability rating, and her bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy was also rated at the maximum 40 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as there is no evidence supporting a causal relationship to his active service.,Service connection for left wrist disability remains denied, with the highest allowable rating of 10% being assigned.,Service connection for left hand peripheral neuropathy prior to April 23, 2023, remains denied.,Service connection for left hand peripheral neuropathy from April 23, 2023 onward is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service-connected. The issues of left hand, right hand, bilateral lung condition (embolism), right shoulder, right knee, and left knee conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and whether they are related to service. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for neuropathy of the left upper extremity secondary to diabetes mellitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for neuropathy of the right upper extremity.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension, stroke residuals, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding his exposure to Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (DDT) during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service. Service connection was also remanded for a heart disability due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy and considering whether his non-service connected back disability may be contributing to his symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or sustain substantially gainful employment, and TDIU is granted on a schedular basis. Prior to October 28, 2021, the Veteran was not in receipt of a 100% rating for his prostate cancer, so entitlement to a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral leg disability, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, and coronary artery disease (CAD).,There is no evidence showing a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period.

The Board has remanded the cases due to duty-to-assist errors in prior examinations, and a new examination is required for each issue.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are currently rated at 40 percent, effective August 24, 2021. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.