The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, hypertension with diabetic nephropathy, and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities. The RO maintained a 60 percent evaluation for diabetes mellitus, a 30 percent evaluation for hypertension, and no separate evaluations were assigned for the peripheral neuropathies.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes due to lack of significant complications or symptoms that would warrant increased disability evaluations.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, hypertension with diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- August 24, 2000
- Citation
- 0022415
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0022415.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to exposure to toxic chemicals during military service. The conditions are presumed related to herbicide exposure.
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