Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions, including shoulder disorders, spine disorders, peripheral neuropathies, and psychiatric disorders, due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The decision is based on the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, prostate disability, and peripheral neuropathy due to toxic exposure. The Veteran's diabetes is not related to military service, according to a recent opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including new VA examinations and medical opinions to address his lumbar spine disorder, ankle disorders, peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the arms and legs, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral leg condition, right foot condition, hepatitis C, and right knee osteoarthritis were dismissed. The appeal for service connection for lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy and myositis ossificans of the right thigh (right hip/thigh condition) is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee fragmentation wound scar is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of a right knee scar is related to his active military service, specifically an in-service shrapnel wound during his tour in Vietnam. For other issues, including increased ratings for various disabilities and renal insufficiency prior to December 14, 2020, the decision remains pending as these are not final decisions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Type II diabetes mellitus is granted. The claims for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as hypertension are remanded due to the need for further examination and evidence collection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for unspecified insomnia disorder was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating. The claim for TDIU from March 1, 2019 forward was granted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluding him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of June 20, 2015.,Prior to June 20, 2015, the Veteran's TDIU claim was remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, head tremors, trembling hands, and restless leg syndrome were denied as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 15, 2018; rather his nonservice-connected disabilities contributed to his unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and chloracne, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and presumed herbicide exposure during his military service. The claims for a lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, and skin disorders other than chloracne have been remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of diabetes mellitus, type 2; bilateral eye disability; left knee disability (reopened); kidney disability; peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities; erectile dysfunction; prostate disability; and lower back disability are still pending. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for heart condition, insomnia, and peripheral neuropathy of various extremities are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for migraines, right ankle disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to scheduling issues with VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to cooperate with scheduling of a VA examination. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected left ilio-inguinal neuropathy status post neuroma excision, as well as obtaining outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a neurologist regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected Crohn's disease and his peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neuropathy of all extremities due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents and in-service back pain. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's service.