The Veteran's arthritis, including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, did not have its clinical onset during a period of active service and is not otherwise related to active duty service.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, specifically carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), did not have its clinical onset during a period of active service and is not otherwise related to active duty.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's arthritis was incurred or aggravated by his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The condition pre-existed service and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence (CUE) of its onset during service.,The peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities did not have its clinical onset during a period of active service and is not otherwise related to active duty. It was also not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis, Peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 26, 2015
- Citation
- 1527551
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 1527551.
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).
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Veteran's disability ratings for low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been reduced from 40% and 10%, respectively, to 20% and 0%. The reduction was based on improvements shown in recent VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right knee strain with arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum allowable rating under Diagnostic Code 5010 prior to February 7, 2021. The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia and irritable bowel syndrome is not rated higher than 30 percent.
- Whole decision: Denied
The appeal regarding the July 2, 2020 rating decision for PTSD was denied. The claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities were also denied.
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