The Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes was denied in the February 2010 Board decision. New evidence received since then is not material to reopen this claim.,Right ear tinnitus was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest within a year after discharge, nor is there continuity of symptomatology or etiological link to service. The Veteran's current right ear tinnitus is rated at 10 percent disabling under DC 7122 for arthralgia or other pain, numbness, or cold sensitivity.,Frostbite residuals of the left and right hands have been rated at 10 percent since May 11, 2016. The Veteran's current condition includes arthralgia, numbness, and cold sensitivity with tissue loss from frostbite. A higher rating is not warranted as there are no additional symptoms such as nail abnormalities, color changes, locally impaired sensation, hyperhidrosis, or x-ray abnormalities.
The deciding factor: The new evidence does not provide any information that would raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of service connection for diabetes. The Veteran's glucose levels were normal during service and did not show pre-diabetic range.,Right ear tinnitus was not shown as chronic in service, nor is there continuity of symptomatology or etiological link to service. The current condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7122 due to lack of additional symptoms such as nail abnormalities, color changes, locally impaired sensation, hyperhidrosis, or x-ray abnormalities.,The Veteran's frostbite residuals have tissue loss and are rated at 20 percent since May 11, 2016. However, the current condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there are no additional symptoms such as nail abnormalities, color changes, locally impaired sensation, hyperhidrosis, or x-ray abnormalities.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), right ear tinnitus, frostbite residuals of the left hand, frostbite residuals of the right hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2023
- Citation
- 23011517
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 23011517.
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 service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy. The Veteran's cause of death due to these conditions is also recognized.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure have been granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The claim for glaucoma has been denied as not related to service-connected conditions or in-service herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection for heart failure is granted secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's diabetes is granted as service-connected due to in-service herbicide agent exposure. The Board finds the pre-decisional record inadequate for evaluating certain Parkinson's disease residuals and remands for further examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain relevant exposure information. The AOJ is instructed to conduct additional development as outlined in the decision.
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