The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is denied. Separate 10 percent ratings are granted for the external popliteal nerves of both legs.,A TDIU claim is remanded as part of this decision.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms, including pain, numbness, and gait issues, have not met the criteria for a higher initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.,Separate ratings are granted for the external popliteal nerves due to their mild incomplete paralysis. The TDIU claim is remanded as part of this decision.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, external popliteal nerve, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, external popliteal nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 25, 2021
- Citation
- 21031997
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 21031997.
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 Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and related conditions, including diabetic nephropathy, bilateral upper extremity neuropathies, and lower extremity neuropathies is granted effective August 10, 2022.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's passing in November 2024.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for diabetes, hypertension, monoclonal gammopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral femoral and sciatic nerves, chronic kidney disease, anemia, and upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy on a direct basis or secondary to diabetes, effective November 5, 2021.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for several conditions were dismissed. However, the veteran was granted an effective date of December 6, 2017 for service connection for erectile dysfunction and related SMC.
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