The Veteran's service connection for blindness in both eyes, high blood pressure, and left kidney disability have been reopened. The rating for diabetes mellitus type II has been reduced from 60% to 20%, effective June 23, 2013. The Veteran's abdominal muscle disability and gunshot wound residuals of the left back have been granted increased ratings.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed sustained improvement in the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, which was managed with insulin, a restricted diet, and regulation of activities without episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions. The VA examiner noted that this warranted a 20% rating under DC 7913.
- Claimed conditions
- blindness in both eyes, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus type II, abdominal muscle disability, gunshot wound residuals of the left back, residuals of injury to jejunum, gunshot wound residuals of the left kidney
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- July 10, 2018
- Citation
- 18116879
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 18116879.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, high blood pressure, and type II diabetes mellitus due to errors in development of the claim.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic nephropathy, and prostate cancer. The issues of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on housebound status and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) are remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, which is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and panic disorder with insomnia. The decision finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the erectile dysfunction was caused by these conditions.
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