Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2026

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity, right upper extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to a lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and effective dates have been denied. The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are currently rated at 60 percent, 20 percent, and varying percentages respectively.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death, and DIC benefits are granted. The issue of entitlement to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and diabetes mellitus type II. The Board also found that there is at least an approximate balance of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy was caused by his now service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's appeal for a separate rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for service-connected insomnia is granted.,The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's LLE and RLE disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board finds that the Veteran may have been exposed to toxic substances during his service, including RF radiation and asbestos. However, VA did not obtain an opinion regarding the relationship between these exposures and the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to exposure to toxic chemicals during military service. The conditions are presumed related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and malignant neoplasm of the skin has been restored from March 1, 2026. The claims for IHD, diabetes, fibromyalgia, hypertension, COPD, and erectile dysfunction are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart condition, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII) with bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and hypertension due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service. The Board found that there was no exposure to herbicide agents during service and that the Veteran did not have any in-service onset or relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is being remanded due to insufficient evidence in the March 2025 decision. The Board requires a medical opinion from CEAT regarding the Veteran's need for personal care services and supervision.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for memory loss, erectile dysfunction, lower back condition, or any type of peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's STRs and post-service medical records do not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions.,There is no indication that the Veteran has a current disability for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right leg neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back disability, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension contributed to his death from severe sepsis due to pneumonia and urinary tract infection. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The AOJ failed to obtain relevant VA treatment records and an etiological medical opinion, which is needed to determine if the Veteran's condition is related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for neurological impairment of the right and left lower extremities, variously diagnosed as neuropathy and radiculopathy, which is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the Veteran's exposure to asbestos and Agent Orange during service. The claims are now pending for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 28, 2021. From September 28, 2021 to May 22, 2022, the Veteran had a combined total disability rating of 100%, which rendered the issue moot as he was already receiving SMC based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance is not linked to any of his service-connected disabilities, so the Board denied entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance.