Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremities peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicide agents. The decision is based on insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service in recognized herbicide presumptive areas and the need for a VA examination.

The rating reductions for diabetic polyneuropathy were restored, and the Veteran's service connection claims for other conditions remain pending.,A remand was ordered to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's headaches and his PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorders, breast cancer, bladder cancer, right arm disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. These issues are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the addition of new evidence not previously considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder and left elbow disorder, including ulnar neuropathy, due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's statements about symptoms during service and post-service work as a forklift operator will be considered in forming opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic polyneuropathy, finding it is related to the Veteran's service-connected TBI residuals, multiple myeloma, and osteoarthritis. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base is presumed, thus his conditions are presumed to have been caused by the herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for various knee, ankle, and lumbosacral spine disabilities due to incomplete medical records. The AOJ must obtain these records from private providers.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for service connection of left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, both secondary to service-connected back disability. The Board dismissed the appeals as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various peripheral neuropathies and coronary artery disease are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions. The VA is directed to obtain medical opinions on whether her symptoms are related to her in-service exposure to environmental contaminants.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II and its secondary effects. The claims are related as they all involve diabetes mellitus as a primary condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU for the period prior to February18, 2022.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his service connection awards of right upper extremity muscle weakness, left upper extremity muscle weakness, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy. The Board finds that the earliest possible effective dates are March 23, 2017.,The Veteran did not submit a formal or informal claim prior to March 23, 2017, for any of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his Gulf War illness, including for left and right lower extremity neuropathy, a right knee disability, a left knee disability, headaches, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine DDD, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. An earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine DDD was granted.

The Veteran's diabetes, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, amputation of the left leg, and peripheral neuropathy are all presumed to be related to his service in Thailand during the Vietnam War Era due to herbicide agent exposure.,The Board granted service connection for these conditions based on their presumptive association with herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral upper extremity diabetic neuropathy was first received on July 27, 2018. As no other claim is of record, an earlier effective date is not available.

The appeal for service connection and rating increases for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction, type II diabetes, kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and PTSD, is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's initial increased disability ratings for tinnitus, right knee strain, and left ankle neuropathy were denied. The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and marijuana use was also denied an increase in rating.,Issues related to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU were remanded.