The Veteran's heart disorder was characterized by symptoms such as dyspnea on exertion, left heart catherization, and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 50%. His diabetes mellitus required insulin, a restricted diet, and regulation of activities. The Board found that the reduction from 60% to 30% for ischemic heart disease was improper due to lack of improvement in ability to function under ordinary conditions. For diabetes, the Veteran's condition did not warrant more than a 20% rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work for his heart disorder, and his diabetes mellitus required only a restricted diet and oral hypoglycemic agent without regulation of activities.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease / coronary artery disease status-post myocardial infarction, Diabetes mellitus, type II, Peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- February 28, 2018
- Citation
- 1812467
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 1812467.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's current peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was incurred during his period of active service, including exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board granted service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the lack of development related to Agent Orange exposure and solvent/asbestos exposure.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of August 10, 2022 for hypertension and July 25, 2023 for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.,The Veteran's conditions were found to have manifested no later than the dates specified in their respective effective dates.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for DIC benefits, finding that the Appellant's claim was not properly reopened and that the earliest available effective date is June 14, 2021.
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