The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, or right lower extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that a low back disability began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's diagnosed disabilities were not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology.,While the Veteran has current diagnoses of mild cataracts and diabetic retinopathy of the right eye, there is no evidence that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Veteran sustained a blunt trauma injury to his right eye in February 1974.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that ulcerative colitis (Crohn’s Disease) began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The deciding factor: There is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's current diagnoses to his military service.,The service records do not show any history of low back disability and there are no indications of symptomatology during service. The Veteran’s diagnosed disabilities were noted decades after separation from service.,While the Veteran has current diagnoses, these conditions predate his military service and there is no evidence linking them to service.,There is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's ulcerative colitis (Crohn’s Disease) to his military service.

Claimed conditions

{"condition_name":"type II diabetes mellitus","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":true}, {"condition_name":"neuropathy of the left upper extremity","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":false}, {"condition_name":"neuropathy of the right upper extremity","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":false}, {"condition_name":"neuropathy of the left lower extremity","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":false}, {"condition_name":"neuropathy of the right lower extremity","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":true}, {"condition_name":"low back disability","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":false}, {"condition_name":"bilateral eye disability","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":false}, {"condition_name":"Crohn’s Disease","diagnosis_date":null,"current_diagnosis":false}

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

November 21, 2019

Citation

19188316

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 19188316.