The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetic nephropathy and a higher disability rating for pancreatitis from October 29, 2008 to January 19, 2012 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting these requests.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were based on his service-connected diabetes mellitus and pancreatitis, but the effective date for diabetic nephropathy was determined to be January 27, 2016 due to lack of earlier intent. For pancreatitis, the Board found that there was no evidence of at least one recurring attack of typical severe abdominal pain in a twelve-month period prior to January 19, 2012.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetic nephropathy, pancreatitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 9, 2020
- Citation
- A20016687
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 A20016687.
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: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic nephropathy, and prostate cancer. The issues of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on housebound status and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) are remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for asthma, COPD, pancreatitis, stroke, and left arm weakness (claimed as secondary to stroke) based on the presumption of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or due to in-service exposure.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to clarify the dates of bilateral partial foot amputations and their relationship to service-connected diabetes. The AOJ will obtain pertinent private treatment records to determine these details.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD), finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his active duty at Fort McClellan. The Board also found support for secondary service connection for diabetic neuropathy of various extremities, peripheral vascular disease, and gastroparesis as secondary to DM.
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