The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are currently evaluated at 20 percent each, while his residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right posterior thigh with right knee arthritis is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that these evaluations adequately reflect the severity of the disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 8521 and 8620, as his symptoms are primarily sensory in nature with no evidence of organic changes or trophic changes warranting a higher rating. The residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right posterior thigh with right knee arthritis is rated at 30 percent based on moderately severe injury to Muscle Group XIII.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Lower Extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Lower Extremity, Residuals of a Shell Fragment Wound to the Right Posterior Thigh, involving Muscle Group XIII with Right Knee Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 9, 2009
- Citation
- 0946594
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 0946594.
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 prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from March 29, 2012, to April 23, 2025. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is found to be eligible for enrollment in the PCAFC program due to his severe and complex medical conditions, which require personal care services.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is denied as there was no prior formal or informal claim submitted before July 2, 2016.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities, granted an earlier effective date of September 7, 2018 for the grant of service connection for hypertension, and granted initial ratings of 40 percent for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities. The TDIU claim was also granted.
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