Peripheral neuropathy Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral lower extremity and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, as secondary to service-connected conditions, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and uncompleted tasks.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Vietnam, and VA acknowledges this exposure. However, early-onset peripheral neuropathy is required for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(6)(ii). Given the Veteran's current diagnosis of lower extremity neuropathy and his contentions regarding Agent Orange exposure, a medical opinion is needed to address the etiology of his disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a right hip disability, finding no evidence of such disabilities during or related to active duty service.,Service connection was also denied for left upper extremity neurological disorder (claimed as neuropathy) and right upper extremity neurological disorder (claimed as neuropathy), with the case being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's diagnosed peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is presumed to have been caused by his herbicide exposure in service.,The Veteran’s current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities is etiologically related to his service, specifically his Vietnam military service and direct exposure to Agent Orange for an extended length of time.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied as the evidence does not support a link between his current condition and his active military service. The Board also found that he cannot secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, but did not grant TDIU as the schedular threshold was met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to procedural errors in the original decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of a direct or presumptive link between these disabilities and the Veteran's service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: service connection for a left knee disability and service connection for ulnar neuropathy of the right upper extremity. These cases need additional development.

The Veteran's cataracts and upper and lower bilateral peripheral neuropathy are granted for accrued benefits purposes as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.,Service connection for hypothyroidism is denied, as it cannot be attributed to Agent Orange exposure or diabetes.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, and bilateral lower extremity plantar nerve mixed neuropathy due to incomplete adjudication.

The Board has denied service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection was granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities due to their secondary nature to the Veteran's service-connected bladder cancer.

The Veteran's skin disabilities, including porphyria cutanea tarda and vitiligo, as well as his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is rated at 60 percent effective August 9, 2012.,TDIU was granted from August 9, 2012 through September 29, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for lower left extremity peripheral neuropathy due to further development being required.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip disability, including left hip osteoarthritis and left hip greater trochanter bursitis, and a left thigh disability, including neuropathy of the peroneal nerve. The Veteran's torn groin and ripped anal region claims were denied as not related to service.,The Board has also granted service connection for a skin disability. The Veteran reported experiencing rashes since separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD (claimed as mental health condition) is denied an effective date prior to December 12, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for Type II Diabetes Mellitus with cataracts is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a separate and compensable evaluation for bilateral cataracts associated with Type II Diabetes Mellitus with cataracts is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve associated with Type II Diabetes Mellitus with cataracts is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve associated with Type II Diabetes Mellitus with cataracts is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity femoral nerve is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for meralgia paresthica of the right thigh is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease bilateral sacroiliac joints with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and back spasms is denied.

The Veteran's tension headaches are not manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months, resulting in a denial of a compensable rating.,Service connection for the bilateral leg disorder is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding its onset and causation.