The Board remands the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities due to a need for a VA medical opinion regarding their etiology, particularly concerning exposure to herbicide agents during service.
The deciding factor: The evidence was sufficient to trigger VA's duty to assist by providing a medical opinion on the etiology of the claimed conditions, especially considering the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25030852
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 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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of the left middle finger and remanded claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and a TDIU.
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