The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted, with his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam considered. The Board finds that there is at least equipoise evidence supporting a nexus between the Veteran’s currently diagnosed peripheral neuropathy and his in-service contact with Agent Orange.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are consistent with those experienced by other veterans who had contact with Agent Orange, leading to a finding of service connection based on direct causation.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities, Peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20070247
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including blurred vision, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, poor circulation in the legs, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and fecal leakage, all claimed as secondary to diabetes. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II and denied service connection for coronary artery disease, essential hypertension, retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for sarcoidosis as new and relevant evidence has been received since the previous denial.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
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