The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The Veteran is not shown to have early-onset peripheral neuropathy, but his current evidence supports a possible link between his peripheral neuropathy and exposure to Agent Orange.
The deciding factor: The Board found insufficient medical evidence to decide the claims under Combee (based on competent affirmative evidence showing a nexus) due to inadequate rationale in supporting opinions. The Veteran's service connection claim is remanded for further development, including an opinion from a clinician regarding the etiology of his peripheral neuropathy.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity (hand numbness), Peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity (hand numbness), Peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity leg and foot numbness, Peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity (leg and foot numbness)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2021
- Citation
- 21026051
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 21026051.
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.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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