The Veteran's service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the left upper extremity is granted. Service connection for kidney failure and back neuropathy are not established, but service connection for loss of balance is denied. The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities results in moderate impairment prior to January 9, 2007, and severe impairment from that date forward.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has been diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy affecting his upper and lower extremities, which was found to be related to his service-connected diabetes. Service connection for back neuropathy is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or relationship to service. Loss of balance due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions is not established.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetic neuropathy of the left upper extremity, kidney failure, back neuropathy, loss of balance, diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the right upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 21, 2009
- Citation
- 0927098
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 0927098.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's COPD is granted as service connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and loss of balance are remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD), finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his active duty at Fort McClellan. The Board also found support for secondary service connection for diabetic neuropathy of various extremities, peripheral vascular disease, and gastroparesis as secondary to DM.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure, and also granted service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the right upper, right lower, left upper, and left lower extremities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's inner ear symptoms are related to service or any other condition.
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