The claim of entitlement to service connection for depression has been reopened.,Claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for right upper extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome, right lower extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy have all been dismissed as freestanding claims. The original decisions granting these conditions were final.,The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to March 31, 2014, for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed as a freestanding claim. The original decision granting this condition was final.,The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to March 31, 2014, for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction has been dismissed as a freestanding claim. The original decision granting this condition was final.,The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to February 17, 2013, for the grant of service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome has been dismissed as a freestanding claim. The original decision granting this condition was final.

The deciding factor: The evidence received since the August 2014 rating decision includes a January 2018 favorable medical opinion linking the Veteran's depression to service, which relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of entitlement to service connection for depression.,These claims are dismissed as freestanding because they raise issues that have already been decided and are not new or material evidence. The original decisions granting these conditions were final.,The March 2014 decision granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, but the Veteran did not appeal it within one year of its issuance. Therefore, this claim is also considered a freestanding claim as it raises issues that have already been decided and are not new or material evidence.,The March 2014 decision granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, but the Veteran did not appeal it within one year of its issuance. Therefore, this claim is also considered a freestanding claim as it raises issues that have already been decided and are not new or material evidence.,The February 2013 decision granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, but the Veteran did not appeal it within one year of its issuance. Therefore, this claim is also considered a freestanding claim as it raises issues that have already been decided and are not new or material evidence.

Claimed conditions

depression, right upper extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome, right lower extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, left knee patellofemoral dysfunction

How they argued it

Not specified

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

December 13, 2019

Citation

19193843

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 19193843.