The veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuropathy is not considered to be due to VA medical treatment in August 1997, and the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.
The deciding factor: There is no objective evidence of a qualifying additional disability involving bilateral lower extremity neuropathy that was proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of the VA, or by an event not reasonably foreseeable, in connection with VA medical treatment provided in August 1997.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral lower extremity neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 29, 2002
- Citation
- 0208609
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0208609.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy. The Veteran's cause of death due to these conditions is also recognized.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the August 2023 rating decision granting a TDIU was not an initial decision, making the appellant eligible for direct payment of fees from past due benefits awarded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death, and DIC benefits are granted. The issue of entitlement to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII) with bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and hypertension due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service. The Board found that there was no exposure to herbicide agents during service and that the Veteran did not have any in-service onset or relationship between his current conditions and his military service.
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