The Board denied service connection for RUE and LUE peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not causally or etiologically related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of early onset peripheral neuropathy within one year after the last date on which the Veteran was exposed to an herbicide agent in Vietnam, and opined that the Veteran's RUE and LUE peripheral neuropathy were more likely related to his alcohol consumption rather than military service or exposure to Agent Orange.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (RUE peripheral neuropathy), Peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (LUE peripheral neuropathy)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19148622
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the conditions are related to in-service herbicide agent exposure.
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