Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right sciatic and tibial nerves has been granted a 20 percent rating for the period prior to November 1, 2018, and a 40 percent rating since that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in the previous opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral median neuropathy. The Veteran now has a current diagnosis of this condition, and a new medical opinion is needed to determine if it is proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the November 2022 remand directives and is therefore remanding the claims for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disability, back disability, acquired psychiatric disability (MDD), and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to potential issues with the adequacy of the examinations provided.,These matters are being returned to the VA examiners or appropriate medical providers for further evaluation and opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed conditions.,The Veteran's service records show multiple instances of knee and back complaints during his active-duty service, which may impact the determination of whether these disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination. The issues include bulging discs, sleep apnea, arthritis of hands and knees, hypertension, and diabetic neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (other than right upper hemiparesis) has been reopened due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board granted a TDIU rating based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities and due to herbicide agent exposure. The case will be reviewed to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for joint pain, peripheral neuropathy, migrainous vertigo, and ulcerative proctitis have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for low back, neck, bilateral knee, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, migraines, and ulcerative proctitis.,The Veteran's elbow and wrist conditions, neuropathy, and dizziness/vertigo have not been evaluated yet. Further examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain a new opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.,The February 2023 VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's CIDP is granted as service connected due to Agent Orange exposure, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure.

The Veteran's heart disorder is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of discharge and there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service, including herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are not early-onset and thus do not qualify for presumptive service connection based on herbicide agent exposure. The Board also found that these conditions were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right hand osteoarthritis and/or residuals contusions metatarsal phalangeal joint in great toe.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, left arm neuropathy, tinnitus, and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional clarification on stressor events and verification of claimed incidents.,Service connection for PTSD is also being remanded as there were no attempts to verify the claimed stressors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a heart disability, lung cancer, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, liver disability, peripheral neuropathy, allergic rhinitis, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, gastrointestinal disability, blood forming organ disorder, reticuloendothelial disability, agranulocytosis, and nasal disability. The claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and lower extremities polyneuropathy, as the current evaluations do not reflect the full extent of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II and its related peripheral neuropathy, eye condition, kidney condition, and erectile dysfunction, have been denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety with depression has been reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for a left eye disorder, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremity, bilateral leg orthopedic disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, arthritis of the shoulders, arthritis of the neck, sinus disorder, right eye disorder (glaucoma and cataract), erectile dysfunction, and heart disorder have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various peripheral nerve conditions in the Veteran's upper and lower extremities due to a lack of adequate opinions from the VA examiner, particularly regarding the etiology of his left-hand numbness and tingling.

The Veteran's knee surgeries are at the VA medical center. The Board has ordered additional VA treatment records to be obtained, including his July 31, 2023, knee surgery treatment records.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange, while serving in Korea during the Vietnam era.,The Veteran's neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are considered secondary to his service-connected bladder cancer.