The Veteran's claim for higher SMC rates is denied as his disabilities do not meet the criteria for loss of use of hands or feet, blindness with only light perception, or anatomical loss.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support that the Veteran has a level of impairment to warrant an even higher rate of SMC due to his service-connected conditions and existing combined rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Polyneuropathy, Anatomical loss or use of hands and feet
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 4, 2022
- Citation
- 22044339
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 22044339.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral upper and lower extremity polyneuropathy, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for RUE and LUE polyneuropathy or in excess of 10 percent for RLE and LLE polyneuropathy.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional information regarding his work history and for extra-schedular consideration of TDIU prior to March 25, 2022.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for MGUS with polyneuropathy is granted, effective August 10, 2022. The issue of direct service connection remains remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.
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