The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for Type 2 diabetes mellitus and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria due to incomplete development. The VA examiner must provide a retrospective medical opinion addressing the severity of the Veteran's service-connected diabetes during the appellate period.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the July 2020 DBQ was not adequate for rating purposes and directed the AOJ to obtain additional medical records, including from identified facilities. The VA examiner must provide a retrospective analysis based on the VA criteria for disability ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20076984
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 20076984.
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 Veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC was denied as the Board found that he is already in receipt of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure. A second award of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance was not warranted.
- Granted
The Board vacates the September 2022 decision denying service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to the passage of the PACT Act, which expanded presumptive exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's service was not found to be in offshore Vietnam or any other location where herbicide exposure is presumed. As a result, his claim for service connection cannot be substantiated.
- Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused by a disability incurred in or aggravated during his military service, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches was denied as there were no prostrating attacks. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to the Veteran's ability to maintain a substantially gainful occupation despite his service-connected disabilities.
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