The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, including diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of various extremities, bilateral hearing loss, otitis media, and vertigo.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy (right upper extremity), diabetic neuropathy (left upper extremity), diabetic neuropathy (sciatic nerve, right lower extremity), diabetic neuropathy (sciatic nerve, left lower extremity), diabetic neuropathy (femoral nerve, right lower extremity), diabetic neuropathy (femoral nerve, left lower extremity), bilateral hearing loss, otitis media, vertigo
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2025
- Citation
- A25044108
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence linking his current condition to active service or any incident of service.
- 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.
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