The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating claims related to various disabilities, including peripheral neuropathies of upper and lower extremities, tinnitus, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The ratings for diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy were also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the need for regulation of activities or episodes of ketoacidosis/hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization or frequent visits to a diabetic care provider, which are necessary for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension (diabetic nephology), lower left extremity peripheral neuropathy, lower right extremity peripheral neuropathy, acquired psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19176791
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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