Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both the left and right lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's condition is due to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for kidney disease and peripheral neuropathy, as these conditions may be related to herbicide exposure. The remand includes obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right lower extremity (RLE) sciatica and/or neuropathy, as well as left lower extremity (LLE) sciatica and/or neuropathy. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted a rating of 40 percent each, effective prior to July 6, 2021. The Veteran's right upper and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are denied ratings higher than 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and additional development of records. The Veteran's heart condition, peripheral neuropathy, and vascular disease are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for mononeuropathy is dismissed. A rating higher than 70 percent for a trauma and stressor disorder prior to August 25, 2016, is granted. The issue of service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy due to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate previous opinions and conflicting findings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as these conditions are presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange). The case is being returned for further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as his chronic fatigue syndrome, dizzy spells/imbalance, irritable colon syndrome, tinea pedis, and migraines have been granted increased ratings. However, service connection for these conditions remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and peripheral neuropathy in his bilateral lower extremities due to potential exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during service. The Veteran needs further examination to determine if he served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam, and a VA medical examination is required to assess the nature and etiology of his IHD and neuropathy.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as these conditions are presumed to have been incurred in service.,Service connection is also granted for tinnitus as it is proximately due to a service-connected disability (bilateral hearing loss).,Service connection is denied for COPD, as there is no evidence of its onset within one year after the last date of herbicide exposure and no other basis for presumptive service connection.,Service connection is denied for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence showing it became manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year after the last date of herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity numbness, diagnosed as peripheral neuropathy, on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional private treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for DMII, a heart condition, and hypertension have been dismissed. The issues of service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to DMII are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, as well as for bilateral lower extremity tarsal tunnel syndromes, all related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and tactical herbicide agents used in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was denied as the earliest date of receipt of a formal or informal claim is March 17, 2016.,Increased disability ratings for neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities were granted at 30 percent each. The criteria for higher ratings are not met due to lack of evidence showing complete paralysis.,The Veteran's TDIU prior to March 17, 2016 was remanded as there is no indication that his service-connected disabilities alone meet the requirements for a TDIU.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, groin rash, and sleep apnea were not shown to be related to service.,Service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bronchitis, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus, combine to render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.