The Veteran's claims for right upper extremity and left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy have been denied.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been granted a 20% rating effective October 28, 2019. The ratings for the left and right lower extremities diabetic neuropathies affecting the sciatic nerve are also granted with the same effective date.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support the presence of upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy or the required criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, Left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, Diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), Left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy affecting the sciatic nerve, Right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy affecting the sciatic nerve, Lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis (back disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 26, 2023
- Citation
- A23037259
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 A23037259.
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 TDIU and DEA claims are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the rating decision on review. The effective date for TDIU is set at January 31, 2021, based on the last day of employment. However, the RO needs to obtain SSA records regarding earnings from July 2020 to January 31, 2021, to determine if the Veteran's employment was marginal.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted TDIU and increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including diabetic neuropathy. The effective date of the grant of service connection for diabetic neuropathy was denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The other conditions are granted with service connection based on in-service exposure.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities. The claims of service connection for hypertension, fatigue, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and a neck condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.