The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right leg disabilities, including arthritis and peripheral neuropathy, due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents, and thus remanded for further development including a VA examiner's opinion on the etiology of the peripheral neuropathy.
- Claimed conditions
- left leg arthritis, right leg arthritis, left leg peripheral neuropathy, right leg peripheral neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23068169
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 23068169.
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 non-fused transverse process of L1 on right side; degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), thoracolumbar spondylosis and lumbar scoliosis is granted. The left leg peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the spinal disability is also granted. An increased rating of 30 percent for the service-connected left ankle arthritis status post fracture, medial malleolus is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation at the intermediate rate between 38 U.S.C. § 1114 subsections (n) and (o) due to multiple service-connected disabilities independently rated at 50 percent or more.
- Granted
The Board has restored service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and left leg and right leg peripheral neuropathy due to the clear and unmistakable error in the original grant of service connection. The Veteran had an official diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities and potential aggravation by service. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations for her claimed conditions.
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