The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right foot Charcot disease and diabetes mellitus with retinopathy due to a lack of TERA medical opinion regarding potential exposure to toxic substances in service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lay statements suggest possible exposure to toxic substances during service, but no TERA medical opinion has been provided to address the relationship between these disabilities and service.
- Claimed conditions
- right foot Charcot disease, diabetes mellitus with retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2024
- Citation
- A24022909
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 A24022909.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, PTSD, diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, cervical sprain, tinnitus, right and left knee degenerative joint disease, pes planus, and left eardrum surgery residuals, preclude him from engaging in gainful employment consistent with his education and experience. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of 90 percent.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since March 7, 2013. The Board granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective from that date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that service connection is not granted for respiratory disorder, diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, and Charcot disease of the right foot. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic hearing loss disability during or following service, and that his diabetes with retinopathy warranted only a 20 percent rating. The hypertension claim was not addressed as it was remanded.
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.