The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus to service or any presumptive exposure. The Veteran's symptoms began many years after separation and were attributed to various conditions including metabolic disorders, radiculopathy, and nerve entrapment.
The deciding factor: The Board found no medical opinion linking the peripheral neuropathy to service or any presumed exposure (Agent Orange), given the late onset of symptoms and lack of contemporaneous evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19167610
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 19167610.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and an effective date of August 13, 2019, for the grant of Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder, service connection for gallbladder disease and functional gastrointestinal disorders, and remanded claims for peripheral neuropathy, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and residuals of liver disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy to obtain a new VA medical opinion due to inadequate previous opinions.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of the left middle finger and remanded claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and a TDIU.
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