Citation Nr: 21063312 Decision Date: 10/13/21 Archive Date: 10/13/21 DOCKET NO. 19-20 151 DATE: October 13, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, including due to treatment for service-connected lung cancer, is remanded. Service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, including due to treatment for service-connected lung cancer, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Air Force from September 1969 to September 1972 and from September 1972 to July 1973. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a July 2015 rating decision from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). Bilateral Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy The Veteran seeks entitlement to service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. He asserts that his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is a result of chemotherapy treatment for his service-connected lung cancer. Service connection may be granted for a disability resulting in a disease or injury that is incurred in or aggravated by active military service. 38 U.S.C. §1110; 38 U.S.C. §3.303. To establish service connection for the claimed disorder, the following criteria must be met: (1) evidence of a current disability; (2) evidence of an in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) evidence of a nexus between the claimed in-service disease or injury and current disability. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.303; see also Davidson v. Shinseki, 581 F.3d 1313, 1316 (Fed. Cir. 2009); Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163, 1166-67 (Fed. Cir. 2004); Hickson v. West, 12 Vet. App. 247, 253 (1999). The Veteran has a diagnosis of bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. See June 2019 Private Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ); April 2019 VA examination. The Board notes that the June 2019 statement of the case (SOC) incorrectly concludes that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis. Notably, private electromyography studies appear to suggest that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremities are within normal limits but have borderline evidence of sensory polyneuropathy. See June 2019 private treatment records. This same private treating physician ultimately concludes that the Veteran has bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. See June 2019 private DBQ. The VA examinations of record also diagnosed the Veteran with bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. See April 2019 and July 2015 VA examinations. The Veteran relates that his peripheral neuropathy symptoms: burning, tingling, numbness, and pain, began after his chemotherapy treatment. The April 2019 VA examiner opined that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is not due to or the result of his service-connected lung cancer because the two are not related. This medical opinion is inadequate because it: (1) lacks adequate rationale, (2) does not address the Veteran's main assertion that his chemotherapy treatment for lung cancer caused his neuropathy, and (3) does not address whether or not his neuropathy is aggravated by his chemotherapy treatment. See El-Amin v. Shinseki, 26 Vet. App. 136 (2013). The April 2015 VA examiner indicated that he could not opine about the relationship between the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and chemotherapy treatment without resorting to mere speculation. The Board finds that remand is warranted for a new VA medical opinion. Notably, a previous VA medical examiner indicted that there was a relationship between the Veteran's upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and his chemotherapy treatment. As a result, remand is warranted to determine if there is a similar relationship between the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and his chemotherapy treatment for his service-connected lung cancer, including any radiation or chemotherapy treatment. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain any outstanding VA treatment records. 2. Issue an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lung cancer, including his radiation or chemotherapy treatment for the disability. K.A. KENNERLY Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Ijitimehin, Kemi D. The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.