The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and increased ratings for hypertension were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for diabetes, as there was no medical evidence linking it to service or any service-connected condition. For hypertension, the Board noted that while the Veteran required medication, his blood pressure readings did not consistently meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish a direct link between the Veteran's diabetes and his service, nor did it show that his hypertension met the criteria for a compensable rating based on its severity.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19131032
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, and Parkinson's disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension, as well as entitlement to a special monthly pension, due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during the Vietnam War era.
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