The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is denied as there is no evidence of chronic in-service disease or a compensable degree within the presumptive period. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and radiculopathy of the lower extremities is granted.,Service connection for left hand strain, left arm condition, right thigh pain, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (to include as secondary to service-connected conditions), and right hand pain (to include as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine) are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The evidence is in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of adjustment disorder with depressed mood proximately due to or aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and radiculopathy of the lower extremities.,There are conflicting opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left hand and arm conditions. The VA examiner in October 2016 provided a negative nexus opinion, while Dr. R.P. opined that the Veteran's left hand and left arm should be service connected.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus type II, acquired psychiatric condition (adjustment disorder with depressed mood), left hand strain, left arm condition, right thigh pain, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, right hand pain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 12, 2022
- Citation
- 22028262
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 22028262.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- 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.
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