The appeal of the deferral decision on service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy was dismissed, and a rating of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus was granted.
The deciding factor: The appeal was dismissed due to jurisdictional defects as the RO's deferral action did not constitute an adjudicative decision that could be appealed. The Board agreed that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus warranted a 20 percent rating based on the evidence of daily insulin injections and restricted diet, but not higher due to lack of evidence for more severe criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, Diabetes mellitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25052926
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R(1) rate due to his need for regular aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding no evidence that his death was related to any injury or disease in service, including exposure to herbicide agents.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, as the evidence did not support the need for insulin or episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization.
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.