The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy (claimed as vision), and residuals of injury to the index and middle fingers. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 10 percent rating for those injuries.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2, right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy (claimed as vision), or residuals of injury to the index and middle fingers began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes mellitus type 2, Right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, Left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (claimed as vision), Residuals of injury to index finger, right hand, Residuals of injury to middle finger, right hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25049123
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 various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type 2 and peripheral neuropathy, to further investigate potential exposure to herbicides during the Veteran's service in Korea.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy due to exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune during service. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of August 31, 2021, for the grant of service connection for DM, type II and related diabetic neuropathies, as well as an earlier effective date for right knee strain. The claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ was denied.
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