The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current diabetic retinopathy or peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and concluded that these conditions are not related to service or a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners did not find any current diagnoses of diabetic retinopathy or peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to degenerative changes in his cervical spine rather than diabetes mellitus Type II.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetic Retinopathy, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Upper Extremities
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2010
- Citation
- 1007130
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 1007130.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for diabetic retinopathy as there were no incapacitating episodes or visual impairment.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II, a compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy, and an earlier effective date for the grant of a 40 percent rating for residuals of left thalamic stroke with neurogenic bladder. However, TDIU was granted.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and its associated complications.
- Granted
The Veteran's entitlement to a rating of 20 percent for diabetic retinopathy, both eyes from May 13, 2018 to January 26, 2021 is granted.
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