The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral cataracts, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, are found to be sufficient to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including multiple conditions affecting his vision, mobility, and cognitive function, were found to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining employment.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral cataracts, digital neuropathy (right lower extremity), digital neuropathy (left lower extremity)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- June 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19142481
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,757 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19142481.
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 Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular Aid and Attendance is granted as of April 25, 2024.,For diabetes mellitus, a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed all appeals except for the claim of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder strain. The appeal concerning the other issues on appeal is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's eye disabilities, including bilateral cataracts, hypertensive retinopathy, hypermetropia, astigmatism, presbyopia, unspecified peripheral retinal degeneration, dry eye syndrome, presence of intraocular lens, old branch retinal vein occlusion, and bilateral pinguecula.
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