The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathies, and coronary artery disease.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran submitted an intent to file a claim for service connection within one year of discharge or that there was any unadjudicated claim prior to January 27, 2007. The disability ratings were also found to be appropriate based on the severity and manifestations of the conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25040649
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 Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for cervical spine condition, diabetes mellitus, heart condition, lumbar spine condition, and urinary frequency and voiding condition as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a VA neurological examination to determine the nature and severity of the service-connected right lower extremity and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
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