The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right upper extremity and left upper extremity neuropathy, finding that the symptoms are considered in the already service-connected bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not differentiate between the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity neuropathy and radiculopathy, leading to a denial of direct service connection due to impermissible pyramiding.
- Claimed conditions
- Right upper extremity neuropathy, Left upper extremity neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 12, 2023
- Citation
- 23002115
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 23002115.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran's request for a Higher-Level Review (HLR) of a March 2023 HLR rating decision was untimely and invalid. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on housebound status and need for regular aid and attendance due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities. The evidence does not meet the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension was not granted an earlier effective date than August 10, 2022.,Effective February 25, 2021, the Veteran is now eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance based on permanent and total disability status due to multiple service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), both due to herbicide exposure, is granted.,Service connection for GERD secondary to PTSD is also granted. The Veteran has left lower extremity neuropathy but no current diagnosis of left upper or right lower extremity neuropathy.
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.