The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to unresolved questions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's polyneuropathy, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected PTSD and alcohol abuse.
The deciding factor: The decision was made based on the need for additional medical opinions addressing the relationship between the Veteran's current polyneuropathy and his service-connected PTSD and alcohol abuse in service.
- Claimed conditions
- polyneuropathy of both upper extremities, polyneuropathy of both lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20068691
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,699 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20068691.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for polyneuropathy of both upper and lower extremities due to an inextricably intertwined alcoholism claim, as well as a potential secondary theory of entitlement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a cold injury to the feet and polyneuropathy of both lower extremities, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to bilateral lower extremity polyneuropathy, finding that there is no causal connection between the VA surgery and treatment and the veteran's current condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
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.