Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent and not higher.,Service connection for CFS has been reopened but the claim remains denied.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy has been reopened but the claim remains denied.,Service connection for a bilateral hip condition was previously denied, with no new evidence provided to reopen it.,Service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The skin disability claim was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis associated with right wrist injury and right ulnar neuropathy, finding that the current disabilities are at least as likely related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The claims for service connection of the Veteran's back disability, right knee disability, polyneuropathy of the left hand, and polyneuropathy of the right hand are being remanded due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The Board will seek medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.,Impaired fasting glucose (claimed as diabetes mellitus) is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Veteran does not meet the full criteria for diabetes mellitus.,Bacterial meningitis is not service-connected, as there is no indication that it had its onset in service with a continuation since service.,Peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of current disability related to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as the left and right upper extremities, due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.,Veteran's medical opinions support a link between his exposure to herbicide agents and development of peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is now granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, heart disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder, have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and myelodysplastic syndrome, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service, including exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange.

The Veteran's left knee disability, along with other service-connected conditions, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board denied a higher rating for the left knee disability and granted a TDIU effective October 7, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for rating and TDIU due to incomplete development, including obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a colon disorder, including colonic polyps, has been denied as there is no current disability.,Service connection for hypertension was granted based on the PACT Act effective from August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to chemicals while stationed in Japan. The Board will consider all of his claimed conditions, including cardiovascular issues and diabetes, as part of this case.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II, as well as peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities. The claims are based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions, including left shoulder disability, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left shin splints, arthritis of the upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy in different limbs, a pain disorder (fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome), and anemia. The reasons provided include lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for right shin splints, left shin splints, arthritis of the upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy in different limbs, a pain disorder (fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome), and anemia have all been denied by the Board. The reasons provided include lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal of an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder prior to July 27, 2022 is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lateral femoral neuropathy and right lateral femoral neuropathy are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left shoulder surgery scars is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for left shoulder nerve damage is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea is remanded.,The Veteran's appeals of ratings in excess of 20 percent for the residuals of left (minor) shoulder surgery based upon limitation of motion and impairment of the humerus are remanded.,The Veteran's appeal of a rating in excess of 10 percent for sciatic neuropathy of the left lower extremity is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities due to potential exposure to burn pits during his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. The VA is required to provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions based on total potential exposure through all applicable military deployments, including the synergistic effect of all TERA.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate compensable ratings are being remanded due to the need for further development of the evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral leg disability, including neuropathy, as it found no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions and concluded that any current disabilities were not incurred during military service.