The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, and denied his increased rating claims for lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability. The Veteran was also denied TDIU.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was incurred in or aggravated by service, or secondary to his service-connected hypertension. For the period prior to September 23, 2002, the lumbar spine disability was shown to be manifested by degenerative arthritis and tenderness resulting in moderate limitation of motion. Beginning on September 23, 2002, the disability was shown to have been characterized by severe disability with marked limitation of motion. For the period from September 26, 2003 to November 2, 2014, the Veteran's radiculopathy in his right lower extremity has been consistent with mild incomplete paralysis. As of November 3, 2014, it has been moderate incomplete paralysis. For the period from March 1, 2006 to July 2, 2012 and since November 4, 2014, the Veteran's radiculopathy in his left lower extremity has been consistent with mild incomplete paralysis. As of November 3, 2014, it has been moderate incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes (lumbar spine disability), degenerative changes of the cervical spine (cervical spine disability), radiculopathy in the right lower extremity associated with lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy in the left lower extremity associated with lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2016
- Citation
- 1601658
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 1601658.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Veteran's Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular Aid and Attendance is granted as of April 25, 2024.,For diabetes mellitus, a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.
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