The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. Ratings of 40 percent, but not greater, are granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and left lower extremity sciatic nerve, with ratings of 30 percent, but not greater, for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and bilateral lower extremities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hypertension was found to be proximately due to his service-connected diabetes. For the lower extremities, the evidence supported a finding of moderate incomplete paralysis, warranting ratings of 40 percent for each sciatic nerve condition and 30 percent for each femoral nerve condition.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20006661
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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