The veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for his service-connected conditions were denied. His diabetes mellitus is currently evaluated as 40 percent disabling, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are noncompensable from April 14, 2003 to January 20, 2006, erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy each receive a noncompensable evaluation.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus or for compensable evaluations from April 14, 2003 to January 20, 2006, for peripheral neuropathy, right and left lower extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 3, 2006
- Citation
- 0631038
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 0631038.
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.
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- Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied increased ratings for right shoulder impingement syndrome, hearing loss, painful scar, patellofemoral pain syndromes of the knees, and other conditions.
- 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.
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