Jim,
keep up the fantastic work your doing for all the veterans of all the wars and conflicts . they shud build a statute of you by the vietnam vets wall . my question is im taking glyburide 5 mg for diabetes 2 my doctor increased my medication to take METFORMIN HCL ER 500 MG TABLET TWICE A DAY (THATS 1000 MG ) IM RECEIVING 20% FOR DIABETES FROM THE VA AGENT ORANGE RELATED. CAN I GET AN INCREASE IN BENEFITS FOR INCREASE IN MEDICATION ?
Reply:
The Schedule For Rating Disabilities says...
7913 Diabetes mellitus
Requiring more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities) with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider, plus either progressive loss of weight and strength or complications that would be compensable if separately evaluated 100
Requiring insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated 60
Requiring insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities 40
Requiring insulin and restricted diet, or; oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet 20
Manageable by restricted diet only 10
Thus, until you are on insulin and have regulation of activities, your rating will stay at 20%. Regulation of activities may include restricted exercise or work and careful monitoring of exercise.