The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is found to be less likely than not the cause of his diagnosed cognitive disorder. However, a remand is necessary as the VA examiner did not address whether the diabetes mellitus aggravated the cognitive disorder beyond its natural progression.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide an opinion on whether the service-connected diabetes mellitus type II aggravated the Veteran's cognitive disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- cognitive disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 8, 2023
- Citation
- A23031411
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 A23031411.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's TBI residuals, including depressive disorder, cognitive impairment, chronic sinusitis, migraines, vertigo, anosmia, hypogeusia, and trigeminal nerve neuralgia, require aid and attendance. The Veteran is not eligible for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2). Without regular aid and attendance, the Veteran would need residential institutional care due to safety concerns.
- Dismissed
The appeal of the proposed reduction of the disability rating for cognitive disorder, adjustment disorder, and insomnia is dismissed because there has been no adverse action taken.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection and a separate rating due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's cognitive disorder and granted an initial 10 percent rating for left-hand tremors, while remanding the issue of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left upper extremity neuralgia of the radial nerve.
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