The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected, but his diabetes mellitus, type II, which he contends caused or aggravated his hypertension, has been granted a 40 percent disability rating effective January 5, 2006. The right lower extremity disability resulting from a stroke and peripheral neuropathy was rated at 60 percent prior to December 5, 2014, but the Veteran's claim for an increased rating remains denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found that hypertension is not service-connected as it did not occur during service or be caused by diabetes mellitus. The effective date of the 40% disability rating for diabetes mellitus was set at January 5, 2006, based on when the Veteran first claimed regulation of activities were necessary.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Type II
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2015
- Citation
- 1546208
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 1546208.
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: Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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