The claims for right lower extremity numbness and left lower extremity numbness were denied due to lack of current diagnosed disabilities. The claim for service connection for a left foot disability is denied as the evidence does not show it was caused by a service-connected condition.,The claims for right lower extremity numbness and left lower extremity numbness were denied due to lack of current diagnosed disabilities. The claim for service connection for a left foot disability is denied as the evidence does not show it was caused by a service-connected condition.,The claim for service connection for a left foot disability, claimed as secondary to diabetes, is denied as there is no competent evidence showing that the disability is related to the Veteran's diabetes. The claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is remanded due to insufficient evidence on record regarding its etiology.,The claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is remanded due to insufficient evidence on record regarding its etiology, specifically concerning herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: There was no current diagnosed disability for right or left lower extremity numbness and left foot disability.,There was no current diagnosed disability for right or left lower extremity numbness and left foot disability.,The evidence does not show that the left foot disability is caused by a service-connected condition, specifically diabetes.,The evidence does not establish herbicide exposure or provide sufficient medical opinion to determine if squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue was related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right lower extremity numbness, Left lower extremity numbness, Left foot disability, Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2024
- Citation
- 24001285
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 344 · Granted: 11% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 24001285.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board found that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for acne vulgaris is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the left foot disability claim is remanded.
- Dismissed
The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right hand disability is dismissed.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder based on a June 2020 claim is denied.,The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle and foot disabilities are remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective August 13, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since this date.,Due to the grant of an earlier effective date for TDIU, the Veteran is now eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 starting from August 13, 2020.
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.