{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/peripheral-arterial-occlusive-disease-buergers-disease-secondary-to-diabetes","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:33.078Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"claim":"Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (buerger's disease) secondary to diabetes","secondary_condition":"Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (buerger's disease)","service_connected_disability":"diabetes","decisions":336,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":37.2,"denied_pct":21.7,"remanded_pct":39.6,"granted_on_merits_pct":63.1,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":30,"granted_pct":16.7,"denied_pct":40,"remanded_pct":36.7},{"year":2018,"issues":45,"granted_pct":20,"denied_pct":28.9,"remanded_pct":51.1},{"year":2019,"issues":67,"granted_pct":35.8,"denied_pct":14.9,"remanded_pct":47.8},{"year":2020,"issues":77,"granted_pct":48.1,"denied_pct":18.2,"remanded_pct":32.5},{"year":2021,"issues":77,"granted_pct":40.3,"denied_pct":18.2,"remanded_pct":41.6},{"year":2022,"issues":69,"granted_pct":37.7,"denied_pct":21.7,"remanded_pct":34.8},{"year":2023,"issues":75,"granted_pct":52,"denied_pct":21.3,"remanded_pct":26.7},{"year":2024,"issues":51,"granted_pct":33.3,"denied_pct":11.8,"remanded_pct":47.1},{"year":2025,"issues":24,"granted_pct":41.7,"denied_pct":25,"remanded_pct":33.3}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":71.2,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":70,"granted_pct_with":87.7,"granted_pct_without":53.2},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":208,"granted_pct_with":59.1,"granted_pct_without":71.2},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":94,"granted_pct_with":86.5,"granted_pct_without":49.2},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":158,"granted_pct_with":58.9,"granted_pct_without":67},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":128,"granted_pct_with":69.3,"granted_pct_without":58.2},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":235,"granted_pct_with":54.9,"granted_pct_without":85.2}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":28},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":28},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":22},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":4},{"reason":"secondary service connection granted","decisions":3},{"reason":"dm is service-connected","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":13},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":10},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":9},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":4},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":4},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":2}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26038330","year":2026,"judge":"SHEREEN M. MARCUS","rationale":"Current diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease.; DM is service-connected.; VA examiners found peripheral vascular disease caused by DM."},{"case_id":"A26025129","year":2026,"judge":"PAUL SORISIO","rationale":"Diagnosis of bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy; Secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2"},{"case_id":"A26019952","year":2026,"judge":"S. BUSH","rationale":"AOJ favorable finding in January 2025 rating decision; Board is bound by AOJ's favorable finding; Criteria for secondary service connection met"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A25098818","year":2025,"judge":"THOMAS H. O'SHAY","rationale":"No in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptoms.; Arterial disease not presumptively linked to herbicide exposure.; VA examiner opined less likely than not related to service.; No probative medical opinion linking arterial disease to service or diabetes."},{"case_id":"A25096569","year":2025,"judge":"MATTHEW W. BLACKWELDER","rationale":"DMII not service-connected; Secondary service connection requires service-connected underlying condition; Lack of legal merit for secondary claim"},{"case_id":"A25065491","year":2025,"judge":"SHEREEN M. MARCUS","rationale":"Service connection for DM denied.; No direct service connection for peripheral vascular disease established.; VA examiner opined peripheral vascular disease was due to DM, not service."}]},"how_argued":{"note":"From keyword matches in each issue's AI summary and rationale, not the full decision. Only issues whose text names a medical link are counted under pathways; one issue can name several. A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.","issues":529,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":93,"granted_pct":31.2},"causation_only":{"issues":436,"granted_pct":40.4},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":49.1,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Nerve involvement","issues":253,"granted_pct":49.4,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26019952","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Secondary service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was granted, as it was found to be proximately due to the veteran's service-connected diabetes."},{"case_id":"A25016583","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Service connection for left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, sciatic nerve, was denied an earlier effective date prior to January 17, 2024."}]}]},"how_va_rates":null,"requirements":"38 CFR 3.310: a current diagnosis, a service-connected disability, and medical evidence that it caused (3.310(a)) or aggravated (3.310(b)) the condition."}}