The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and for evaluations in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, and for evaluations in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities. The claim for hepatitis C was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis. The claim for diabetes mellitus was granted with a 20 percent evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service connection claim for hepatitis C was denied because there is no current diagnosis of hepatitis C. For the diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy claims, the criteria for a higher rating were not met as the evidence did not show regulation of activities necessary for a higher evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 2, 2009
- Citation
- 0945778
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 0945778.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The decision finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted on a secondary basis with obesity serving as an intermediate step due to service-connected low back disability, sciatica, and right shoulder disabilities.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and left arm tremors. Service connection for right hand tremors is also granted. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus.
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