Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and diabetes mellitus, as well as increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and recurrent tibia fractures are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's right leg parathesias were determined to be unrelated to his active service or service-connected low back disability.

The Board has ordered the claims to be remanded for additional development and readjudication, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's appeal is currently on hold pending completion of all pending claims and a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be established. The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity as secondary to diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy remains pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral cataracts have been rated based on their current manifestations. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support higher ratings for any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated financial information from the Veteran and scheduling him for VA examinations to assess his disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development regarding his diabetes mellitus, type 2, and bilateral diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, erectile dysfunction, and a skin disorder. The claim for residuals of dental trauma was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn. The claims of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange and whether his current conditions are related to such exposure. The claims for service connection will be further reviewed after this development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure proper notice and obtain relevant medical records. A VA medical opinion will also be obtained regarding the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, increased initial ratings, and a higher rating for his service-connected erectile dysfunction, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetes. The Board found no evidence of entitlement to these benefits prior to May 7, 2009, or that any compensable complications existed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability. The medical evidence does not support a finding of any causal relationship between his knee disabilities and his subsequent development of diabetes, obesity, or other conditions leading to his death.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred - including as a result of exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange, and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disability - in particular, the sleep apnea associated with his hypertensive heart disease.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for Type II diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy of the left eye is service-connected, while his organic mental disorder is not. The diabetes mellitus remains at a 20% rating.