The veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy were partially granted. The claim for service connection for emphysema/COPD was remanded.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the medical evidence and the criteria set forth in the Schedule for Rating Disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy left upper extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy right upper extremity, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the femoral nerve, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the femoral nerve, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25004497
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,963 · Granted: 32% (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 A25004497.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Denied
The Veteran's respiratory disability, including asthma and COPD, is denied as service connection is not warranted due to the condition being solely attributed to smoking.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right foot disability status post Mitchell's bunionectomy is granted with an effective date of July 25, 2023.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left foot disability status post Mitchell's bunionectomy is dismissed as it does not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for asthma, COPD, pancreatitis, stroke, and left arm weakness (claimed as secondary to stroke) based on the presumption of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or due to in-service exposure.
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