The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disorder is granted. Effective dates are assigned for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity.
The deciding factor: New evidence was submitted that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, namely the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents which could potentially link his diabetes mellitus to service. The effective dates for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are assigned based on when they were first factually ascertainable.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19174335
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 19174335.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus; granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and skin cancer; and restored the 10 percent rating for hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea to obtain a TERA opinion due to the Veteran's participation in a toxic exposure risk activity during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.
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