The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, and left lower extremity as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for a skin disorder (chloracne) is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The claim for service connection for a sleep disorder remains pending.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy was at least as likely as not proximately caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II. Service connection was granted based on this finding and the presumption of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The skin disorders were not linked to service due to lack of evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19145908
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, both secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R(1) rate due to his need for regular aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether the current condition is caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
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