The Board has denied service connection for left upper extremity and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as a sleep disturbance. The appeal regarding irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's IBS because there is no direct link between his in-service herbicide exposure and the condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence of a current diagnosis of left upper extremity or right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, nor was there any evidence linking these conditions to service. The sleep disturbance was also not separately diagnosed as a separate disability but rather considered a symptom of his service-connected mental health disorders.,Regarding IBS, the Board found that while the Veteran has been exposed to herbicides during service and is presumed to have been exposed, there is insufficient evidence to support a causal relationship between his in-service exposure and his current condition. The VA examiner did not provide an opinion on whether the IBS could be aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (PN), right upper extremity PN, sleep disturbance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 4, 2023
- Citation
- 23054934
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 23054934.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as the evidence did not establish that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for liver cancer and an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
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