This decision denies an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus with neuropathy and retinopathy, as well as an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate. The appeal is also remanded for further development on issues including initial ratings for PTSD and gastroparesis/GERD.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's original claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was not received within a year of discharge from service, so the earliest possible effective date for the award of service connection is February 22, 2005. The criteria for SMC at the housebound rate were met on April 19, 2011, when the Veteran's PTSD warranted a 100% evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, neuropathy, retinopathy, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), gastroparesis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- February 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19109227
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,861 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19109227.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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