The Board found that the discontinuance of SMC for LOU of both buttocks was proper because the Veteran does not meet the criteria for LOU of both buttocks.
The deciding factor: The May 2022 VA muscle injuries examination report documented no damage to muscle group XVII (the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus), rendering it impossible for the Veteran to meet the criteria for LOU of both buttocks.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve)/loss of use of buttocks, Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), Lower extremity diabetic neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2026
- Citation
- A26035187
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 A26035187.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 21, 2020 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Denied
The Board denied the appeal, affirming the severance of service connection for various conditions due to clear and unmistakable errors in the prior decision.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between the current disability and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy affecting both the sciatic and femoral nerves in each lower extremity, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
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.