The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for neuropathy of the right lower extremity due to a December 1990 low back surgery was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted. The Veteran's sciatic nerve neuropathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 8720 (sciatic nerve neuralgia).
The deciding factor: The November 2012 VA examination concluded that the right lower extremity disability was likely due to alcohol abuse and not caused or worsened by the left lower extremity disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Neuropathy of the right lower extremity, Sciatic nerve neuropathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2016
- Citation
- 1607533
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 1607533.
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: Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date than July 3, 2019, for awards of service connection for neuropathy in each lower extremity as a matter of law.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and increased ratings, as well as a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
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