Peripheral Neuropathy VA Claim Grants

Findings of Fact (verbatim from decision)

Affording the appellant the benefit of the doubt, the Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy onset during service and continued until his unfortunate death.

Findings of Fact (verbatim from decision)

Exposure to herbicide agents caused the Veteran to develop bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

Findings of Fact (verbatim from decision)

1. The Veteran's available military personnel records show that he was deployed to Southeast Asia to assist with launching, parking, and servicing aircrafts for 180 days. 2. A records research response in November 2020 confirmed that the Veteran's unit, the 18th Armament and Electronics Maintenance Squadron (18th AEMS), was deployed to DaNang Airforce Base in South Vietnam to provide armament and electronic support for the 18th TFW in December 1964. 3. The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while deployed to Southeast Asia as an Aircraft Radio Technician. 4. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II that was caused by exposure to herbicide agents. 5.…

Reasons & Bases (verbatim excerpts from decision)

In a June 2020 Board decision, the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities were remanded as inextricably intertwined with his diabetes mellitus type II claim (pending in the modernized review system). The Board remanded the issue of service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type II to verify the Veteran's herbicide agent exposure. Since a review of the record shows that a Records Research Response was provided on the diabetes issue, the Board finds that this matter is ready for adjudication. […] 2. Service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted. 3. Service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted. The Veteran contends that he is entitled to service connection for bilateral left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (neuropathy) because the condition is secondary to his diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), which he believes was caused by his herbicide agent exposure while stationed in Vietnam and Thailand during his service.

Findings of Fact (verbatim from decision)

1. The evidence does not show actual improvement in the Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy such that there is improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under the ordinary conditions of life and work as of November 16, 2015. 2. The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy manifest with moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve without muscle atrophy as of June 25, 2020. 3. The Veteran is unable to maintain employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

Reasons & Bases (verbatim excerpts from decision)

1. Whether the rating reduction for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective November 16, 2015, was proper […] Based on the foregoing, the Board finds that the reductions were not proper and reinstatement of the 20 percent ratings for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and his left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are warranted. […] The VA examiner who conducted the Veteran's June 2020 peripheral neuropathy examination opined that the Veteran could only perform sedentary work and would need to have a rest period every hour. The examiner noted that the peripheral neuropathy would cause the Veteran difficulty with ambulation, balance, transferring, climbing, and standing. […] A private vocational expert who reviewed the Veteran's file and interviewed him in January 2026 opined that the Veteran would not be able to return to his previous clerk job based on pain and physical limitations caused by his lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and hip/thigh disabilities. The vocational expert further opined that the Veteran would be unable to hold down other employment, including sedentary, as he lacks transferable skills or education and would be impaired by his retinopathy and hearing loss, which cause difficulty reading and understanding conversations.

Findings of Fact (verbatim from decision)

Currently diagnosed bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is directly related to the Veteran's conceded in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

Reasons & Bases (verbatim excerpts from decision)

1. Entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is granted. 2. Entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is granted. […] VA obtained another medical examination in August 2024. That examiner found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of right or left shin splints. Instead, the examiner explained that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity symptoms were due to bilateral peripheral neuropathy. In reaching that conclusion, the examiner discussed the relevant medical records that were referenced in the prior Remand directives. The examiner's conclusion is consistent with the other objective medical evidence that does not show a diagnosis of shin splints and is afforded significant weight. Although the Veteran is competent to report pain, weakness, and balance issues in the lower extremities; he is not competent to diagnose a medical condition such as shin splints without any medical training. The VA medical records and examination report instead persuasively show the correct diagnosis is peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.