Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding it related to service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including skin conditions, recurrent headaches, dizziness and vertigo, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, fatigue syndrome, gastrointestinal disorder, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals. The claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to March 26, 2019 was also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for reproductive disability, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and diverticulitis due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ is required to obtain VA examinations and medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran's TERA (terrestrial environmental risk activity) exposure.

Service connection for heart condition, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and neuropathy in the left and right feet is denied.,Service connection for right rotator cuff tendonitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and vertigo is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the lower bilateral extremities was granted due to new and relevant evidence received since the previous denial, including a medical opinion linking the condition to herbicide exposure during service. The presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure is upheld.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, right arm condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral arms, hands, legs, and feet. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed vision impairment and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Board has denied increased ratings for radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as initial ratings for femoral neuropathy. The appeal is remanded due to new evidence regarding an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, PTSD, and bilateral knee disabilities have been granted.,Service connection has also been granted for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected lower extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities are rated based on the severity of their incomplete paralysis, and he is not entitled to higher ratings for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The initial disability ratings for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy prior to June 14, 2021, are denied.,Effective from June 14, 2021, the Veteran's left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are each rated at 40 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, including as due to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), and left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, including as due to service-connected DM II. The evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during the period of June 18, 2015 to October 20, 2016. The evidence does not support an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound criteria prior to May 3, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including shoulder, hip, ankle, and spine issues, are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.,Service connection could not be granted because the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea, and he did not experience any current disabilities related to diabetes mellitus or diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and etiological opinions regarding his claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II; coronary atherosclerosis; aneurysm of the thoracic aorta; asthma; left hepatic lobe cysts; anemia; arthritis of the upper extremities; arthritis of the lower extremities; neuropathy of the lower extremities; and left lung calcium deposit. The claims are remanded due to potential exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism and imbalance issues, including vertigo and peripheral neuropathy, are granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 21, 2019 for SMC based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected bilateral upper extremity disabilities.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for residuals of TBI and remanded the issues of service connection for neuropathy of the left lower extremity, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD).