Citation Nr: 21003408 Decision Date: 01/21/21 Archive Date: 01/21/21 DOCKET NO. 21-00 027 DATE: January 21, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active duty service from February 1964 to February 1966. The Board previously remanded this issue in December 2020 for issuance of a statement of the case. A statement of the case was issued in December 2020, and the Veteran, through his representative, submitted a VA Form 9, Appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals in January 2021. In the VA Form 9, the Veteran’s representative also indicated that an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus, type II, was warranted. However, that issue has already been decided in the December 2020 Board decision. Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, is remanded. The Veteran was last afforded a VA examination addressing the severity of his diabetes mellitus in April 2013, over seven years ago. At that time, the Veteran’s diabetes was managed by restricted diet and prescribed oral hypoglycemic agent. There was no regulation of activities and the Veteran did not have any recognized complications. Importantly, in an October 2020 statement, the Veteran indicated that his diabetes mellitus affected his eyesight and as well urinary frequency. The Veteran also reported restricted activities. Given these additional possible complications as well as the possibility of an increase in severity, the Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of his diabetes mellitus, type II. In light of the need to remand, additional VA clinical records from December 2020 to the present should also be obtained. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain VA clinical records dated from December 2020 to the present. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran's disability under the rating criteria. Specifically, the examiner should determine whether the Veteran at any point during the course of the appeal since March 12, 2010, had to regulate his activities. The examiner should also determine whether the Veteran has any associated complications besides the already service-connected neuropathy of the upper and   lower extremities. L.M. BARNARD Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board J.N. Moats 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.