The Veteran's diabetes was not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of discharge and is not otherwise related to his military service.,A 20% evaluation for lumbar strain from March 28, 2012 until December 7, 2016 was granted. The Veteran has now been assigned a 20% rating throughout the pendency of this disability being service connected.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his lumbar strain after December 7, 2016 was denied.,A 10% initial evaluation for hypertension was granted. The Veteran takes medication for hypertension and has not had diastolic pressure predominantly at or above 110 or systolic pressure predominantly at or above 200.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran incurred diabetes during or within one year of his discharge from active military service.,The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's diabetes was not due to or caused by certain in-service findings of elevated fasting blood glucose. The January 2013 VA examination is considered affirmative evidence that the Veteran’s diabetes was not incurred during and is not related to his service.,The Veteran's lumbar strain has been manifested by muscle spasm and tenderness, but there is no indication of flexion limited to 30 degrees, ankylosis, or any symptoms of intervertebral disc syndrome. The VA examinations do not support a higher evaluation for the disability.,The Veteran takes medication for hypertension and his diastolic pressure has been predominantly at or above 100 requiring continuous medication for control.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes, lumbar strain, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19117206
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,548 · Granted: 31% (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 19117206.
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