The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, but granted effective dates for left knee meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease and lumbar spine DDD. The initial rating for lumbar spine DDD was also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim for diabetes included a diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy which the Board found not to have been present prior to August 20, 2007.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetic neuropathy, left knee meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18136159
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 18136159.
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 lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD, as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the now service-connected lumbar spine condition. The decision is based on a finding of relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the permanent loss of use of his left foot and upper right extremity, allowing for entitlement to an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient examination addressing all aspects of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, including diabetic neuropathy.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
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