The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as regulation of activities is not required to manage DM. For TDIU prior to February 12, 2013, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were deemed insufficient to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the need for regulation of activities as part of managing the Veteran’s DM. The Veteran was found to have sufficient education and training to perform labor-intensive work, which is inconsistent with his ability to engage in office-like administrative or clerical work due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus type II (DM), prostate cancer, other specified depressive disorder with anxious distress, left lower extremity sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, impotence, bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 8, 2021
- Citation
- 21007150
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 21007150.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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