The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or entitlement to SMC based on loss of use of his hands.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed no more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the median nerve in both upper extremities and moderately severe paralysis of the sciatic nerve in both feet, which did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Left Upper Extremity, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Right Upper Extremity, Plantar Neuropathy of the Right Foot with CRPS, Plantar Neuropathy of the Left Foot with CRPS
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 18, 2025
- Citation
- A25053558
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and status post left shoulder surgeries, but denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, sciatic pain in the right leg, sciatic pain in the left leg, right big toe pain, and a right upper extremity disability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for complex regional pain syndrome, muscle pain associated with CRPS, joint pain associated with CRPS, and neurological symptoms associated with CRPS as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Crohn's disease.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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