The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cold weather injuries of the bilateral lower extremities, including circulation problems and numbness of the feet. The evidence did not support a finding that these symptoms were related to in-service cold weather injuries.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s current lower extremity symptomatology was most likely attributable to nonservice-connected vascular disease and diabetic neuropathy, which appeared to have begun in the 1990s.
- Claimed conditions
- cold weather injuries of the bilateral lower extremities, circulation problems, numbness of the feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20020589
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20020589.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service connection claim for numbness of the feet and balance problems is being remanded due to insufficient information in the record. The Board requests a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any conditions manifested by these issues.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to grant service connection for the claimed conditions, and thus remands are ordered for further development.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and will need to reassess the service connection for numbness of the lower extremities secondary to other service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's in-service sensory loss was an early manifestation of her current neuropathy.
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