The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The issues of increased ratings for diabetes mellitus Type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are dismissed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (diabetes mellitus Type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy) have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, as evidenced by his history of unemployment due to these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus Type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2023
- Citation
- A23034792
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 A23034792.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will need additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy was aggravated during his period of active duty training in August 2016.
- Granted
Service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II is granted. The Board also found that service connection should be granted for hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation as secondary to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for higher ratings of tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus Type II is granted as secondary to his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities, and secondary to exposure. The earliest possible effective date is August 10, 2022.
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