Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient VA addendum opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities, including as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence received, but did not consider SSA records in its decision. The case is being returned to the RO to obtain these records.

The Veteran's hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted as service connected under the PACT Act. The issue of service connection for hypertension prior to the PACT Act's effective date is remanded.

The Veteran's knee and left lower extremity conditions are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. Additional development is needed for the right and left knee disabilities, as well as the peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the claims due to a duty to assist error, specifically the lack of relevant VA treatment records and an Informed Consent document associated with interferon treatment. The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity polyneuropathy is presumed to be caused by VA treatment with interferon.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress and psychotic features was granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, chronic stage 4 kidney disease, heart disease, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities were all denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and its secondary effects, as well as her bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The VA will need to obtain a medical examination to determine if these conditions are related to her military service or if they were caused by her fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome was granted a 40% rating effective June 12, 2012.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted effective January 18, 2012.

The Board has denied eligibility for attorney fees in relation to the service connection of right elbow ulnar neuropathy, but granted eligibility for attorney fees related to the increased disability rating for PTSD with bipolar disorder and anxious distress.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as moot because all requested service connection benefits have been granted in a previous decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The case was remanded for further action on the issue of service connection for a sleep disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development due to the need for additional evidence. The effective date of service connection for other specified stressor and trauma related disorder is being considered, but no specific rating or effective date was assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected multiple sclerosis and its manifestations, as well as secondary service connection claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, including whether it is related to his service, particularly his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The AOJ should obtain all relevant medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are being remanded due to a missed VA examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as actinic keratosis. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to sunlight and his reported symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been fully granted in a June 2023 rating decision, resulting in the dismissal of these issues.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity has not met the criteria, leading to its denial. The same applies to his claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity.

The Veteran's claim for right hand CTS is reopened, and her left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted a 20 percent rating from February 1, 2017, to August 3, 2023. The case is remanded for further action on the remaining issues.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are now rated at 50 percent, granting a higher rating. The ratings for his diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities remain at 20 percent each.