Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, open-angle glaucoma, cataracts, congestive heart failure, and PTSD have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple conditions, including respiratory failure and pulmonary emboli. The Board will seek additional medical records to determine if the cold weather exposure in service contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the feet, and gum disease are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a comprehensive examination to assess the Veteran's ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and determining if the Veteran's part-time employment constitutes gainful or marginal employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The hypertension was diagnosed prior to the diagnosis of diabetes and is more likely related to a stroke in 1988.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service treatment records.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and concluded that diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim is denied.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to service and denied the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypertensive heart disease, and urinary tract infection.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation of sarcoidosis and service connection for diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with the exception of his claim for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy. His TDIU was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease status post bypass surgery associated with hypertension was granted an initial rating of 30 percent from February 18, 2004, to July 7, 2010, and a subsequent increased rating to 60 percent effective July 8, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include fatigue, sleep apnea, and obesity. The Board granted service connection for bilateral ankle strain and bilateral patella tendonitis as proximately due to his service-connected obesity. Service connection was denied for a meniscus tear of the right knee, chronic pain of the wrists, hands, and fingers (including carpal tunnel syndrome), and hiccups and muscular twitching of the eyes as not related to active service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to missing service treatment records and inadequate VA medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, circulatory problems (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II), right ear hearing loss disability, left ear hearing loss disability, and hypertension (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for further development of his military records, specifically regarding alleged herbicide exposure in Thailand and Vietnam. The Board will ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist in obtaining these records.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and cataracts, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were chronic in service. The appeal was denied on other issues including extraschedular evaluations for peripheral vascular disease.