The Veteran's left eye diabetic retinopathy and cataracts are granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. A separate noncompensable rating for right eye macular edema is denied from December 3, 2013 to May 13, 2018. The Veteran is now entitled to a 60 percent rating for right eye macular edema and bilateral cataracts beginning as of May 13, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's left eye conditions are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II based on medical evidence indicating diabetic retinopathy and cataract formation is a complication of DMII.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye diabetic retinopathy, left eye cataract (pseudophakia), right eye macular edema, bilateral diabetic retinopathy, bilateral cataracts (pseudophakia)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- November 17, 2021
- Citation
- A21018366
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 A21018366.
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 Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, left eye diabetic retinopathy, left foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease, as well as the Veteran's cause of death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, bilateral diabetic retinopathy, and bilateral upper and lower diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to insufficient evidence regarding toxic exposures during military service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, but remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related conditions, as well as obstructive sleep apnea and the Veteran's cause of death.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his bilateral diabetic retinopathy based on visual acuity findings that did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
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