The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied as there was no evidence of an earlier claim or that the criteria for service connection had been met.
The deciding factor: There is no medical evidence showing that the veteran's upper extremity disabilities or lower extremity neuropathy were related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus prior to February 18, 2004 and January 16, 2004 respectively.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome, flexor tenosynovitis, and Dupuytren's contracture of the right upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome, flexor tenosynovitis, and Dupuytren's contracture of the left upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2008
- Citation
- 0803376
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 0803376.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to diabetes mellitus, have resulted in loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing and dismissed the claim for a special home adaptation grant as moot.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring clarification on whether the Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is early-onset and if it is related to Agent Orange exposure during service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both the right and left lower extremities, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper and lower extremities due to herbicide agent exposure, as there is a pre-decisional duty to assist error that occurred prior to the date of the AOJ decision on appeal.
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