The Board denied earlier effective dates for the assignment of disability ratings of 30 percent and 20 percent for service-connected peripheral neuropathy in the right and left upper extremities, respectively.
The deciding factor: There is no factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the date of the formal claim, and the effective dates cannot be earlier than the date of receipt of the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25023770
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The appeal for service connection and initial rating claims has been withdrawn by the Veteran.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and an effective date of August 13, 2019, for the grant of Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder, service connection for gallbladder disease and functional gastrointestinal disorders, and remanded claims for peripheral neuropathy, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and residuals of liver disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy to obtain a new VA medical opinion due to inadequate previous opinions.
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