The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and bilateral diabetic retinopathy, as well as his claim for TDIU. The veteran's service-connected conditions are rated based on their direct effects rather than any specific exposure basis.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating for diabetes mellitus or bilateral diabetic retinopathy, and the veteran failed to meet the criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Diabetic Retinopathy, Cardiomyopathy (secondary to diabetes mellitus), Diabetes Mellitus, Type I
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 5, 2006
- Citation
- 0619485
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 832 · Granted: 18% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0619485.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Loss of Use of Both Feet with Sciatic and Femoral Nerve Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, have resulted in the permanent loss of use of both feet. The Board has determined that this meets the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for cause of death and diabetes mellitus, type I to ensure complete service records are associated with the claims folder and to obtain necessary medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral diabetic retinopathy, both presumed to be caused by exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's service in Thailand. The claim for a heart condition was remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the AOJ made errors in not considering whether the Veteran's depression/mental problems may have been related to service, and has also failed to consider if the Veteran participated in river boat patrols while serving in Vietnam. The case is being remanded for additional development.
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