Diabetes decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of his claims.

The Board found that the reduction of the veteran's disability rating for diabetic retinopathy from 10 percent to a noncompensable evaluation was not warranted and restored the 10 percent rating.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus has not required hospitalization for episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions and has not required twice per month, or more frequent, visits to a diabetic care provider. Therefore, the claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent disabling for diabetes mellitus is denied.

The case is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted as July 1, 2004.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted due to a current diagnosis and verified in-service stressors.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU are being remanded to obtain additional evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased rating of diabetes mellitus, service connection for peripheral neuropathy and PTSD are being remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection. The claims for hypertension, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, and emphysema were not reopened.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides. The veteran's hypertension and upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are both granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and skin rash as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or current disability.

The case is remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and scheduling new VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, service connection for hypertension and depression/anxiety as not supported by the evidence.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a 50 percent evaluation, but his claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and hypertension were denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy as due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus is being remanded for further development, and the claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are also being remanded.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is appropriately rated as 20 percent disabling throughout the period of the claim, as it does not require restriction of his activities to control it.

The Board remands the case to obtain additional evidence regarding the veteran's service connection for diabetes and hypertension, as well as a medical opinion on whether his in-service obesity may have caused his diabetes.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional VA medical records and a VA examination for the veteran's claimed left shoulder disability.

The appeal was remanded for additional development, including efforts to obtain missing service medical records and private treatment records.