The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran’s peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board has found no basis for a higher rating based on the current evidence.,The Veteran's cataracts are rated at 0 percent, as they do not meet any criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6027 or other relevant codes.,Issues related to PTSD, TDIU, and DEA benefits have been remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's diabetes mellitus does not require regulation of activities as part of its management, thus preventing a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7913. The evidence does not support a finding that the disability has reached the level required for a 40 percent rating.,The objective evidence shows moderate impairment resulting from the neurological symptoms of the bilateral upper and lower extremities associated with diabetes mellitus, but not greater than what is currently rated at 20 percent for each extremity. The Veteran's subjective complaints do not warrant higher ratings based on his reported symptoms.,The Veteran’s cataracts are rated under Diagnostic Code 6027, which rates preoperative cataracts based on visual impairment. Given the current evidence and lack of further unaddressed complications, no basis exists for a higher rating.,Issues related to PTSD, TDIU, and DEA benefits have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, cataracts
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19162613
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,645 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19162613.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
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