SMC at the housebound rate is granted.,A rating in excess of 60 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied.,A rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.,A rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.,A rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetic peripheral neuropathy is denied.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetic peripheral neuropathy is denied.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected diabetic nephropathy is denied.,A compensable rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction is denied.,A compensable rating for service-connected pseudophakia with diabetic retinopathy is denied.,A rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is denied.,An effective date earlier than November 6, 2009, for the establishment of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 2, 2022, for the establishment of service connection for diabetic nephropathy is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 2, 2022, for the establishment of service connection for left carpal tunnel release scar is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 24, 2010, for basic eligibility for education benefits under Chapter 35 (DEA) is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's TDIU was granted based on PTSD alone, and the Board found that this satisfied the requirement of a single disability for SMC purposes.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, erectile dysfunction, pseudophakia with diabetic retinopathy (previously rated as pseudophakia of left eye and early cataracts of right eye), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26011901
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 A26011901.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
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