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
- Not verified here — check the original 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 23002115.
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: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
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