The Board denied the Veteran's claims for separate ratings for neurologic abnormalities associated with his service-connected cervical and thoracic spine disabilities, finding that there are no neurological abnormalities associated with these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the bilateral upper extremity ulnar neuropathy is not related to the Veteran’s service-connected cervical spine condition, and the findings of reduced lower extremity muscle strength and absent reflexes in the knees and ankles noted during an October 2017 thoracolumbar spine examination are unrelated to his service-connected thoracic spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, reduced lower extremity muscle strength and absent reflexes in the knees and ankles
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20054843
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 20054843.
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 claims for TDIU and DEA prior to September 7, 2016 are remanded due to a failure to consider extraschedular TDIU on the merits.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted and have been remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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