The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy does not warrant a higher rating as it is currently managed on diet and oral agents, without requiring regulation of activities. The initial evaluations for peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities are also denied as they do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's diabetes mellitus requires insulin and restricted diet, or oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet. The VA examinations have consistently shown that his diabetes is well-controlled with diet and oral agents.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes Mellitus with Diabetic Retinopathy, 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
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2006
- Citation
- 0636249
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,374 · Granted: 19% (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 0636249.
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 prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from March 29, 2012, to April 23, 2025. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is found to be eligible for enrollment in the PCAFC program due to his severe and complex medical conditions, which require personal care services.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is denied as there was no prior formal or informal claim submitted before July 2, 2016.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities, granted an earlier effective date of September 7, 2018 for the grant of service connection for hypertension, and granted initial ratings of 40 percent for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities. The TDIU claim was also granted.
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