The Board granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral diabetic retinopathy and cataracts prior to April 26, 2018. A 40 percent rating was granted thereafter. The Veteran also received separate ratings for scars secondary to his eye condition. The RO remanded several issues including increased ratings for various conditions.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed significant visual impairment and scarring from diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, warranting the higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetic Retinopathy, Cataracts
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19106843
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for diabetic retinopathy as there were no incapacitating episodes or visual impairment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, aortic tear, cataracts, diabetes mellitus, GERD, and hearing loss.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II, a compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy, and an earlier effective date for the grant of a 40 percent rating for residuals of left thalamic stroke with neurogenic bladder. However, TDIU was granted.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy and remanded claims related to eye conditions and TDIU.
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