The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disorders was granted. The claims for higher evaluations of his left and right knee conditions were also granted, with the highest possible evaluation under VA rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the finding that the Veteran’s obesity, which contributed to his diabetes mellitus, was caused by his service-connected bilateral knee disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee recurrent subluxation, right knee recurrent subluxation, left knee dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion, right knee dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19103473
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for rhinorrhea and denied initial compensable evaluations for headaches and left knee disability, while remanding the claim for a respiratory disorder.
- Granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee instability, and separate 40 percent rating for right knee limitation of extension prior to July 27, 2019.
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