The Board granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent for hypertension (as a complication of diabetes) effective November 17, 2023, and denied ratings in excess of the current levels for diabetes mellitus with retinopathy and gastroparesis, neuropathy of the left foot, and entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hypertension (as a complication of diabetes) met the criteria for a 10 percent rating effective November 17, 2023, but there was no evidence supporting ratings in excess of the current levels for the other conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes mellitus with retinopathy and gastroparesis, Hypertension (as a complication of diabetes), Neuropathy of the left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 20, 2025
- Citation
- 25014205
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,812 · Granted: 30% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 25014205.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a separate rating for neuropathy of the left and right feet, as part of service-connected Achilles tendonitis, for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. His neuropathy of the right and left feet are rated at 20% and 10%, respectively, while his bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10%. The Veteran's PTSD with depressive symptoms continues to be rated at 30%. TDIU remains pending.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with callosities and metatarsalgia was rated at 50 percent, the maximum available rating under Diagnostic Code 5276. The Board found that his symptoms were not severe enough to warrant a higher rating.
- Denied
The veteran's combined disability rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the threshold requirements for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability as per VA regulations. Therefore, the claim of entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability must be denied.
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.