The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his diabetes mellitus with cataracts is granted, and he is currently rated at 20 percent. Service connection for hypertension is denied as it was not incurred in service or due to the service-connected diabetes.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the veteran's diabetes mellitus requires a daily single injection of insulin and a restricted diet, which aligns with his current 20% rating. However, there are no restrictions on physical activities, and he is able to perform physically intensive chores such as mowing lawns.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, cataracts
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2003
- Citation
- 0309357
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 0309357.
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.
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- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus; granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and skin cancer; and restored the 10 percent rating for hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea to obtain a TERA opinion due to the Veteran's participation in a toxic exposure risk activity during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.
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