The veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral diabetic retinopathy and service connection for DJD of the right knee and thoracolumbar spine were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected residuals of a left knee injury.
The deciding factor: There is no medical opinion linking the veteran's current diagnoses of DJD of the right knee and thoracolumbar spine to his service-connected residuals of a left knee injury.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral diabetic retinopathy, Residuals of a left knee injury (DJD of right knee and thoracolumbar spine)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 27, 2007
- Citation
- 0723128
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 0723128.
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: Denied
The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for bilateral dry eye syndrome was improper due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE), and thus, the appeal is denied.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer residuals with voiding dysfunction was denied, while his TDIU claim beginning on August 28, 2015, was granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral knee amputation with peripheral vascular disease, chronic microvascular ischemia, chronic kidney disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral diabetic retinopathy.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, left and right sciatic peripheral neuropathy are rated at 40 percent for the period from December 10, 2019, and thereafter. The Veteran also receives a TDIU.
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