The veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 21, 2006. The medical evidence supports the finding that he could not secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining substantially gainful employment between August 29, 2003 and September 20, 2006.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, vascular insufficiency with peripheral neuropathy (left lower extremity), vascular insufficiency with peripheral neuropathy (right lower extremity), background diabetic retinopathy, chronic synovitis with early arthritis (left hand), chronic synovitis with early arthritis (right hand), degenerative arthritis (left shoulder), dysthymia/generalized anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- December 15, 2008
- Citation
- 0843004
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 0843004.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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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