The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The combined rating for the Veteran's service-connected conditions is 70 percent, which meets the criteria for TDIU. However, his age and other non-service connected factors preclude him from obtaining and maintaining employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetic Nephropathy, Diabetes Mellitus Type II with Erectile Dysfunction, Lymphedema, Milroy's disease of the right lower extremity, Lymphedema, Milroy's disease of the left lower extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy, Left Lower Extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy, Right Lower Extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2017
- Citation
- 1740220
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 1740220.
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 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.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 100 percent effective April 13, 2023.,The Veteran's other trauma and stressor related disorder is rated at 70 percent effective April 13, 2023.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Diabetes Mellitus Type II and Diabetic Nephropathy/Hypertension have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings before or after the relevant dates.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound criteria prior to August 8, 2023. The Veteran was granted a TDIU in 2012 and later received a 100% evaluation for prostate cancer from August 8, 2023.
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