The Veteran's PTSD with secondary MDD and history of alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The ratings for diabetes mellitus type II, associated left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and associated right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy remain denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD with secondary MDD and history of alcohol use disorder caused occupational and social impairment warranting a 70 percent rating under the criteria for this disability.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy involving the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy involving the femoral nerve, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy involving the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy involving the femoral nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- January 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20004760
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for coronary atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and penile cancer as there was no evidence of a medical nexus between the Veteran's conditions and his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, specifically to verify the Veteran's assertion of herbicide exposure while working on C-123 aircraft at Clark Air Base from May 1965 to November 1966.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, right hip degenerative joint disease and rheumatoid arthritis with acetabular cyst status post right total hip replacement, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, fever sores, and a compromised immune system, as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for various conditions associated with a stroke, including obstructive sleep apnea, depression, and diabetes mellitus type II.
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