The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician for the Veteran's back disability, diabetes mellitus type II required only restricted diet and oral hypoglycemic agents, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Back disability, Diabetes mellitus type II, Peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20065180
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy but remanded the back disability claim for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, a back disability, heart disability, and residuals of a stroke, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service or caused by his service-connected left ear disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claims for an initial compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, and a left eye disorder. However, it granted service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the back disability.
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