The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity due to Agent Orange exposure, as it is not clear if the Veteran was exposed in a unit identified as having operated along the DMZ. The Veteran's lay statements and those of his fellow servicemembers support his assertion that he worked near or at the DMZ.
The deciding factor: The Board found reasonable doubt regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange due to lack of records, but determined that it was likely that the Veteran was exposed based on his credible lay statements. The claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine if peripheral neuropathy is related to service and Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 17, 2023
- Citation
- 23002811
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 23002811.
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-connected disabilities, including his bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to diabetes mellitus, have resulted in loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing and dismissed the claim for a special home adaptation grant as moot.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring clarification on whether the Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is early-onset and if it is related to Agent Orange exposure during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper and lower extremities due to herbicide agent exposure, as there is a pre-decisional duty to assist error that occurred prior to the date of the AOJ decision on appeal.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both the right and left lower extremities, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.
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