The veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, but no more.,Service connection for poor heart circulation (coronary artery disease) is granted and the issue of service connection for a claimed disability manifested by poor heart circulation is dismissed as it is encompassed in the already established coronary artery disease.,The veteran's eye disability is not shown to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus service connection is denied.,Service connection for a chronic lung disorder, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange, is granted.
The deciding factor: Diabetes mellitus has been shown to be poorly controlled with multiple medication requirements and restricted diet. The criteria for a 40 percent rating are met based on the need for insulin and regulation of activities.,Service connection for coronary artery disease (already established) encompasses any disability manifested by poor heart circulation, thus this issue is dismissed as service connection has been granted.,The veteran's eye disorder does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability due to diabetes mellitus. The VA examination did not find diabetic retinopathy or neovascularization.,Service connection for chronic lung disorder (including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange) is granted based on the presence of COPD and bronchitis, which are service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, poor heart circulation (coronary artery disease), eye disability, chronic lung disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 11, 2007
- Citation
- 0710420
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 0710420.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Veteran's Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular Aid and Attendance is granted as of April 25, 2024.,For diabetes mellitus, a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.
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