Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis B, sciatica, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and psychiatric disorder (depression).

The Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities are granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and an increased rating for hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II was granted. The claim for tinnitus, linked to his service-connected hearing loss, was also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an extraschedular rating for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is now pending with the RO for further development.

The Veteran's diabetes requires the use of insulin, an oral hypoglycemic agent, and a restricted diet but does not require regulation of activities.,The Veteran's corrected visual acuity is no worse than 20/40 bilaterally with no evidence of any visual field impairment.

The Board found that the prior award of benefits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus was based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE), and thus terminated entitlement to these benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions and denied both service connection for cause of death due to service-connected disabilities and under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange, during his service in Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by his August 18, 2005 sigmoidoscopy and did not involve proximate cause through VA carelessness, negligence, or error. Therefore, DIC benefits based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as it pre-existed his diabetes and was not aggravated by the latter. The VA has remanded for further development regarding the impact of a cervical spine accident on his diabetic neuropathy.

The Veteran's death and potential service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, with peripheral neuropathy and renal failure as a result of herbicide exposure are being remanded due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following all types of substantially gainful occupation, but his nonservice-connected back disability limits his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the case for increased ratings on PTSD with a major depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus was granted, and his sinusitis claim was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and opinions.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on visual impairment or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities and determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left shoulder disability has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in July 2008. The diabetes mellitus claim is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease with bypass graft is presumed to be related to his herbicide exposure, and service connection for this condition has been granted.