The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as there is no evidence of onset during service or within one year post-service, and the current condition was not linked to service.,The Veteran's sleep disorder (to include sleep apnea) was denied as there is no evidence of onset during service or within one year post-service, and the current condition was not linked to service.
The deciding factor: Service records were silent for any complaints, treatment, or diagnosis related to peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's reports of symptoms started many years after service, and there is no evidence linking his current conditions to service.,The Veteran reported sleep issues during service but STRs are silent for any mention of a sleep disorder. Post-service records indicate the condition was diagnosed decades later, with no indication of continuity of symptoms since service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, Sleep disorder (to include sleep apnea)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2026
- Citation
- A26026638
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26026638.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the rating decision on review. The effective date for TDIU is set at January 31, 2021, based on the last day of employment. However, the RO needs to obtain SSA records regarding earnings from July 2020 to January 31, 2021, to determine if the Veteran's employment was marginal.
- Whole decision: Granted
The rating reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for the service-connected right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was improper, and restoration of the 20 percent rating is granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for the right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's disability ratings for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, were restored to their previous levels of 70%, 60%, 30%, and 30% respectively, effective from February 12, 2025.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are rated at 10 percent each. The Board denied entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for both conditions.
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