Citation Nr: 21001356
Decision Date: 01/07/21	Archive Date: 01/07/21

DOCKET NO. 19-14 285
DATE: January 7, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM) with bilateral cataracts and erectile dysfunction is remanded.

REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION

The Veteran had active military service from October 1956 to October 1986. 

This case comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal of a September 2018 rating decision issued by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). 

Increased Rating

The Board finds that additional development is required before the appeal is decided.  

The Veteran asserts that his DM is more severe than what is contemplated by his currently assigned rating. 

The Veteran was last afforded a VA examination for his service-connected DM in July 2018. Since that time, he has reported that his DM has increased in severity.  For example, he has since indicated a restriction of activities, which was not indicated at the time of the last examination.  Therefore, the Board finds that the Veteran should be provided a new VA examination to determine the current level of severity of all impairment resulting from his service-connected DM, to include separate VA examinations for his associated service-connected erectile dysfunction and bilateral cataract disabilities.

In addition, current treatment records should be identified and obtained before a decision is made with regard to the issue on appeal.

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Identify and obtain any pertinent, outstanding VA and private treatment records and associate them with the claims file. 

2. Then, schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the current level of severity resulting from his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral cataracts disabilities. The claims file must be made available to, and reviewed by the examiner.

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3. Confirm that the VA examination reports and all medical opinions provided comport with this remand and undertake any other development determined to be warranted. 

4. Then, readjudicate the appeal. If a decision remains adverse to the Veteran, issue a supplemental statement of the case and allow the appropriate time for response. Then, return the case to the Board.

 

 

ERIC S. LEBOFF

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	A. Byrd, Associate Counsel

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.