The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy associated with type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction was denied. The effective date of the grant of a 10 percent disability rating is March 14, 2017.
The deciding factor: There were no incapacitating episodes during the period on appeal and the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating did not meet the criteria for any higher ratings under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Eye.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, Type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 1, 2020
- Citation
- 20076316
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 20076316.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension and remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral eye vitreous body crystalline deposits and asteroid hyalosis, as well as Type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 11, 2020, warranting a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy have not met the criteria for increased ratings. The earlier effective dates for service connection, rating assignments, and SMC are denied.,The Board has remanded the claim of an appropriate evaluation for CAD with history of coronary artery bypass graft.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's ambulance transportation on April 5, 2020 was for an acute UTI and met the prudent layperson definition of a medical emergency. The VA facility was not feasibly available, and the Veteran did not have other health insurance to cover the ambulance transportation. Therefore, payment or reimbursement is granted.
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