The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, as his previous opinions were inadequate. The Veteran asserts that his condition began in Vietnam and is related to herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found the prior medical opinions insufficient due to their failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding symptom onset and continuity.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2017
- Citation
- 1742536
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1742536.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The May 2025 motion to revise the March 2019 Board decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. A medical opinion is needed regarding whether his condition was caused by exposure to herbicide agents.
- Denied
The Veteran's request for a higher-level review of the denial of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities was denied due to it being untimely.
- Granted
The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents, with a rating of 100% effective from the date of the decision.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.