The Veteran's bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy has not resulted in visual acuity that meets the criteria for a higher initial disability rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's vision was no worse than 20/40 in the right eye and 20/70 in the left eye, which does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 24, 2017
- Citation
- 1718183
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1718183.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy have not met the criteria for increased ratings. The earlier effective dates for service connection, rating assignments, and SMC are denied.,The Board has remanded the claim of an appropriate evaluation for CAD with history of coronary artery bypass graft.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple heart disabilities, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypothyroidism, bladder cancer, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathies, bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Korea.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy associated with type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction was denied. The effective date of the grant of a 10 percent disability rating is March 14, 2017.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's TDIU was granted based on the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities (chronic low back disability, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic retinopathy) meeting the schedular criteria as of June 3, 2005.
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