Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chloracne at any point during the appeal period and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The claims of increased rating for actinic keratosis, service connection for DDD, service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and service connection for squamous cell carcinoma are all remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case back to the AOJ for review of additional evidence submitted by the Veteran, and will issue an SSOC.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for various conditions and rating determinations. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, HTN, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to their secondary nature to his already service-connected schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete development regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient medical opinions addressing his heart conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neuropathy and gout of the bilateral lower extremities due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for additional examination. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Thailand is conceded, but further clarification on the relationship between these conditions and his military service is required.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy with tarsal tunnel syndrome, right and left lower extremities, prior to August 14, 2023, due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various peripheral neuropathies and essential tremors were granted with an effective date of March 2, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, multiple myeloma, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to have begun during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. Multiple myeloma, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy were found to be unrelated to service.,The Board also denied service connection for multiple myeloma, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure, as there was no evidence of such exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and peripheral arterial diseases of multiple limbs, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to September 23, 2020.

The Veteran's tinnitus, type II diabetes mellitus secondary to his right knee disability, sleep apnea, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction are all granted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The appeal for sleep apnea and increased rating for left ulnar nerve neuropathy has been dismissed.,The right wrist disability, cervical spine disability, and GERD (hiatal hernia) claims have been reopened and are being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right wrist disability, specifically radial nerve peripheral neuropathy and cervical radiculopathy. The VA is required to obtain an addendum opinion from a neurologist to clarify these conditions.

The appeals for service connection for joint pain and fatigue have been dismissed. The claims for service connection for a back condition and peripheral neuropathy, to include as secondary to the Veteran's low back condition, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM II), bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the legs, bilateral arm radiculopathy, and cervical spine (neck) disability due to inadequate medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for updated VA medical records and additional examinations.,The Veteran is seeking higher initial ratings for his service-connected sleep apnea, voiding dysfunction, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension.

An effective date of January 7, 2022, is granted for a disability rating of 20 percent for bilateral diabetic neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure and consider the new presumptive period under the Blue Water Act.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error regarding his claimed herbicide exposure. The AOJ needs to conduct further research to verify if the Veteran served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during his service from May 1968 to July 1968.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy are granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Korean DMZ. The PACT Act of 2022 is applied to grant service connection for these conditions.