The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy is being remanded due to deficiencies in the VA compensation examination.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinion obtained was not compliant with the Board's remand directives, specifically lacking an eye examination assessing impairment in central visual acuity and/or visual fields resulting from diabetic retinopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 14, 2016
- Citation
- 1615198
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 1615198.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities and right upper extremity. However, an earlier effective date is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for back disability, erectile dysfunction, initial compensable rating for left subclavian artery aneurysm, a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.,VA treatment records are requested as they may be relevant to the issues on appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for diabetic neuropathy, diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective from May 25, 2012.
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