The Veteran's diabetes mellitus II, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are granted. The Board has remanded cases for further development related to hearing loss, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and basal cell carcinoma.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the evidence being in relative equipoise regarding the relationship between current diabetes and in-service exposure to diesel fuel and other air pollutants.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus II, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19148330
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for coronary artery disease with stent placement, diabetes mellitus II, scarring of lungs and liver, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and obstructive sleep apnea was withdrawn by the Veteran through his attorney.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied an effective date prior to April 11, 2013, for the award of service connection for diabetic retinopathy and grade 2+ anterior vacuoles due to a lack of evidence indicating an intent to apply for benefits or communication related to these conditions before that date.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for diabetic retinopathy, chronic kidney disease, a heart disability, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, a colon disability, major depressive disorder, and diabetes mellitus, type 2. The claims for PTSD, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and hypertension were denied.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during its pendency.
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