The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of diabetes mellitus type 2 and congestive heart failure and hypertensive heart disease, finding that the criteria for an earlier effective date were not met under any theory of entitlement.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have current diagnoses of diabetes mellitus type 2 or congestive heart failure and hypertensive heart disease at the time his initial claims were denied in July 2019. The Board found that he failed to submit sufficient evidence to establish current disabilities, despite VA's efforts to obtain relevant medical records.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus type 2, congestive heart failure and hypertensive heart disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 13, 2023
- Citation
- A23028409
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 A23028409.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for heart attack, kidney stones, polycythemia vera, diabetes mellitus type 2, and psoriasis is remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective October 24, 2017. The attorney fees are eligible based on the past-due benefits awarded in the May 2021 rating decision.
- Granted
The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is found to be secondary to her service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate, and thus remands are required to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus type 2 are caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.
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