The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, right upper extremity and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right CTS, and left CTS as there is no evidence of these conditions during or immediately after service.,The Board also denied service connection for TBI due to lack of current diagnosis and credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.,Service connection was not granted for a nervous condition (diagnosed as depression NOS and PTSD) because there is no indication of a current disability related to an in-service event or disease.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have any diagnosed conditions during service, and the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service. The VA examinations found no current diagnoses for peripheral neuropathy, CTS, or TBI.,There is no credible supporting evidence of a head injury during service, and the VA examiners concluded there was no current diagnosis of TBI. The Veteran's stressor statement does not meet the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD as per a VA psychiatrist’s evaluation.,The Veteran had a personality disorder diagnosed during service that preexisted his entry into service. There is no indication of any other mental condition related to service, and the Board found no evidence supporting a current diagnosis of a nervous condition (PTSD) related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus type 2, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), left CTS
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20000228
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,199 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20000228.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for heart attack, kidney stones, polycythemia vera, diabetes mellitus type 2, and psoriasis is remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular Aid and Attendance is granted as of April 25, 2024.,For diabetes mellitus, a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective October 24, 2017. The attorney fees are eligible based on the past-due benefits awarded in the May 2021 rating decision.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's exposure to mercury in dental amalgams and asbestos during service. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine if these exposures are related to his claimed disabilities.
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