The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions listed.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's conditions more closely approximated the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes, nor was there sufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes mellitus, Bell's palsy of the right eye with lagophthalmos and exposure keratopathy, Bilateral glaucoma, Bilateral diabetic macular edema (not indicated), Bilateral cataracts (not indicated), Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (not indicated), Bilateral tired leg syndrome (not indicated), Erectile dysfunction (ED) (not indicated), Diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity (not indicated), Diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity (not indicated), Diabetic neuropathy of the left upper extremity (not indicated), Diabetic neuropathy of the right upper extremity (not indicated), Bilateral hearing loss (not indicated), Bilateral diabetic retinopathy (not indicated), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (not indicated)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 18, 2017
- Citation
- 1728027
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1728027.
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: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of ambulance travel expenses incurred on June 17, 2025 due to an emergency heart attack. The ambulance service was provided by a volunteer organization and later intercepted by a higher-tier EMT company.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection for cause of death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 28, 2021. From September 28, 2021 to May 22, 2022, the Veteran had a combined total disability rating of 100%, which rendered the issue moot as he was already receiving SMC based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and diabetes mellitus, but granted TDIU for the period prior to January 26, 2024.,Prior to this decision, the Veteran withdrew his claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus.
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