The Veteran's claim for initial ratings of 40 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right and left lower extremities, sciatic nerve was granted. SMC for loss of use of the lower extremities is denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathies were moderately severe, warranting a 40% rating under Diagnostic Code 8520.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity, sciatic nerve, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity, sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 30, 2024
- Citation
- 24018422
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 24018422.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the right upper and lower extremities, as well as a higher rating for PTSD, but denied earlier effective dates for service connection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the left and right lower extremities.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity, sciatic nerve were found to not warrant higher disability ratings as the evidence did not show that regulation of activities was required for either condition.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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