The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II and denied service connection for coronary artery disease, essential hypertension, retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities.
The deciding factor: The veteran's DMII required insulin injections and a restricted diet but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7913. The other claims were denied due to insufficient evidence linking them to service or establishing service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), Coronary artery disease (claimed as a heart condition), Essential hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), Retinopathy, Peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities, Peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 5, 2009
- Citation
- 0900230
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 matter for an appropriate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's DMII, as the AOJ failed to properly notify the Veteran of a scheduled examination.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, but denied service connection for DMII, hypertension, prostate cancer, sleep apnea, impotence, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral claudication/superficial femoral artery disease.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple myeloma, Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), and kidney failure secondary to DMII based on in-service herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy as the evidence did not establish in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.
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