The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection and rating for diabetes mellitus and diabetic polyneuropathy of the lower extremities. The Board finds that the earliest possible effective date is May 8, 2001, as this is when the claim was filed within one year of a change in law allowing for presumptive service connection.
The deciding factor: The effective date cannot be earlier than the effective date of the liberalizing law or VA issue and cannot be retroactive for more than one year from the date of application. The veteran's claim was filed after May 8, 2001, which is when the change in law took effect.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, diabetic polyneuropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 20, 2007
- Citation
- 0721874
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 0721874.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Veteran's Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular Aid and Attendance is granted as of April 25, 2024.,For diabetes mellitus, a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.
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