--what is referred to as neuronopathy involves the primary compromise of the cell bodies of neurons, whereas neuropathy involves the primary compromise of the axonal endings, or the myelin sheathing that covers "large fiber" nerve cells.

Of course, if the cell bodies are compromised, the axonal fibers won't fare well, either. But that is a different process from the usual description of neuropathy as "die back"--this process is more like a "die forward".