The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II with peripheral neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy, hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The denial is based on a lack of evidence showing in-service exposure to herbicides or other events that could have caused the veteran's current conditions.
The deciding factor: The veteran did not serve in Vietnam and there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service. His diabetes mellitus was first diagnosed many years after separation from service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology between a disease or injury in service and his current disability.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 25, 2006
- Citation
- 0602089
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 remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for spinal stenosis, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for cervical spine condition, diabetes mellitus, heart condition, lumbar spine condition, and urinary frequency and voiding condition as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
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