The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several issues for further development, including service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sinusitis.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating for type 2 diabetes mellitus as it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The Veteran's cardiomegaly and congestive heart failure, stroke/cerebrovascular accident, diabetic nephropathy, voiding dysfunction, bowel disturbances, neuropathies, and SMC were also denied or remanded based on insufficient evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiomegaly and congestive heart failure, stroke/cerebrovascular accident, diabetic nephropathy, voiding dysfunction, bowel disturbances, neuropathy, right upper extremity muscle weakness, neuropathy, right lower extremity muscle weakness, neuropathy, left upper extremity muscle weakness, neuropathy, left lower extremity muscle weakness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2024
- Citation
- 24004454
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for various conditions associated with a stroke, including obstructive sleep apnea, depression, and diabetes mellitus type II.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a left foot disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding an inadequate October 2024 VA examination.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates related to various left and right hip, knee, shoulder, and other conditions as they were freestanding claims not continuously pursued from the initial rating decisions.
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