The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and peripheral neuropathy, made it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from April 3, 2009, to June 14, 2016, and from October 1, 2016, to August 1, 2017.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly diabetes mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathy, made it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the specified periods.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), diabetic macular edema with diabetic neuropathy, cataracts, diplopia and cranial nerve III palsy/gaze palsy associated with DM, type II with erectile dysfunction and amputation of the right foot 4th digit, ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease s/p, peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity (medial, radial, and ulnar nerves) associated with DM, type II, peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) associated with DM, type II, peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) associated with DM, type II, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- November 18, 2021
- Citation
- 21069359
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 21069359.
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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
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