The veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, erectile dysfunction (impotence), and hypertension were denied as the evidence did not support a rating above the currently assigned 20 percent for diabetes mellitus or any compensable ratings for the other conditions.
The deciding factor: The veteran's diabetes mellitus required insulin and a restricted diet but had not required him to limit his activities. Erectile dysfunction was present, but there was no physical deformity of the penis, and he already received special monthly compensation (SMC) on account of loss of use of a creative organ. Hypertension did not manifest diastolic blood pressures predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressures predominantly 160 or more.
- Claimed conditions
- Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence), Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2008
- Citation
- 0816117
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity.
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