The Board found that the Veteran's current neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities is not related to his service, including frostbite experienced during active duty. The claim for service connection was denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's neuropathy is more likely caused by polysubstance abuse than cold exposure in service.
- Claimed conditions
- neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 2, 2012
- Citation
- 1226811
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1226811.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, ocular migraines, neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, bilateral shoulder disability, low back disability, and Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee. The Board found no evidence that these conditions were related to active service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the statutory housebound rate effective April 1, 2020. The claim for SMC prior to December 31, 2019 was dismissed as moot.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for Parkinson's disease, neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, and unspecified neurocognitive disorder due to in-service herbicide exposure. Additional medical opinions are needed to address these issues.
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