The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were generally granted. Service connection was established for bilateral eye cataracts due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DM II). The cervical spine disability received initial ratings of 10 percent prior to June 28, 2016, and 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran's TDIU claim from July 31, 2017, is moot due to his combined 100 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence supported the grant of service connection for bilateral eye cataracts as secondary to DM II. For the cervical spine disability, the initial ratings were granted based on the severity of symptoms prior to June 28, 2016, and increased thereafter due to more severe symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), Bilateral Hip Disability, Bilateral Eye Disability (Cataracts), Cervical Spine Disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2017
- Citation
- 1757409
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 1757409.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right knee strain (painful motion), and right knee instability are now rated at 30 percent effective August 16, 2017.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for TMD, cervical spine disability, and FSAD have been denied.,An earlier effective date prior to August 2, 2022, for the award of service connection for these conditions has also been denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a heart disability and hypertension due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain addendum medical opinions regarding toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service connection claims for erectile dysfunction and voiding dysfunction have been denied due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his in-service exposure.,The remaining service connection claims (for bilateral feet, ankles, hip, wrist, cervical spine, upper extremity radiculopathy, psychiatric disorder, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension) are remanded for further development.
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