The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and related peripheral neuropathy, do not render him unemployable without regard to advancing age.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s service-connected conditions alone did not preclude substantially gainful employment due to his well-controlled diabetes and no significant functional impairment in grip strength or other extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Bilateral Cataracts, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Peroneal Nerve of Right Lower Extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Peroneal Nerve of Left Lower Extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Upper Extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Upper Extremity, Chronic Renal Insufficiency, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Sural Nerve of Right Lower Extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Sural Nerve of Left Lower Extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- April 4, 2016
- Citation
- 1613539
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 1613539.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Bilateral Lower Extremity Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (Sciatic Nerve), Erectile Dysfunction, and Bladder Cancer in remission. Effective dates have been set for these awards as of July 14, 2004. The Veteran's claim for higher initial disability ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding obesity as an intermediate step in causing or aggravating these conditions, and because of potential toxic exposure during service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for Type II Diabetes Mellitus has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal before the Board could make a decision.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a TDIU with a September 19, 2024 effective date based on his PTSD, emphysema, and COPD symptoms. His diabetes, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss were not found to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 19, 2024.
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