The Veteran's scars were initially assigned a noncompensable rating, effective December 7, 2010, and a 10 percent rating, effective May 24, 2016. The Board found no basis for a compensable rating prior to May 24, 2016, or in excess of 10 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's diabetes was rated as 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7913. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus at any time during the appellate period.,Diabetic neuropathy of the left foot and right foot were each rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 8520, which pertains to neuralgia of the sciatic nerve. The Board found no basis for a higher rating for diabetic neuropathy of either foot.,PTSD was remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus at any time during the appellate period, and diabetic neuropathy of the left foot and right foot were each rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 8520.
- Claimed conditions
- scars, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, left foot, diabetic neuropathy, right foot, generalized anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2018
- Citation
- 18157168
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 18157168.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
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 service-connected PTSD, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia and alcohol use disorder caused his sleep apnea.
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