The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 70 percent, and his disabilities relate to a common etiology (diabetes mellitus). The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions alone do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a combined service-connected disability rating of 70%, which is less than total, but his disabilities are associated with diabetes mellitus. His prior work experience was as an engineer and small business owner, and he currently cannot perform the mathematical calculations and design elements required for his previous employment due to memory problems and cognitive impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, neurogenic bladder, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper and lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- April 7, 2014
- Citation
- 1415029
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 1415029.
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 service-connected conditions, including Parkinson's disease and related disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, have caused loss of use in both hands and need for aid and attendance due to his lower extremity disability, kidney disease, and neurogenic bladder. The Board has granted SMC based on these findings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, a neurocognitive disorder, depression, and anxiety), benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction, neurogenic bladder, obstructive sleep apnea, and balance issues due to potential errors in the decision-making process.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for PTSD, neck scars, quadriplegia, bladder and bowel issues have all been dismissed.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. Effective dates prior to July 27, 2023, are not warranted as the issues were not reasonably raised before that date.
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