Not sure about this but notice (NP =not possible)
b^2 - a^2 b^2 a^2
1 1 0 (violates our rules.... a,b must be positive)
2 NP
3 2 1
4 2 0 (violates our rules)
5 3 2
6 NP
7 4 3
8 3 1
9 5 4
10 NP
11 6 5
12 4 2
13 7 6
14 NP
15 8 7
16 5 3
17 9 8
18 NP
It appears that all odds (except 1) can be made
And it appears that all evens can be made except 4 and the ones of the form 2 + 4(n -1) where n = 1,2,3,4....
You should check for yourself with a few values !!!
Note that when n = 506 2 + 4 (506 - 1) = 2022
So.....the answer should be 2 values = (1,4) + 506 values = 508 integers cannot be made
Hope that helps....