Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and tongue cancer were not found to be related to his service or presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Board has restored service connection for diabetic retinopathy, finding that the RO's severance of service connection was not in accordance with law due to a procedural defect.

The Veteran's diabetes and diabetic nephropathy are evaluated at a noncompensable rating, with the nephropathy receiving a 30% evaluation.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion, is necessary before the claim can be decided.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, effective from July 26, 2001. The Veteran is also entitled to a compensable rating for his diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and cataracts due to final decisions in 2004. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, was also denied as not related to service or any exposure therein.

The Veteran's diabetes and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted service connection as they are related to his active duty service, with exposure near the perimeter of Ubon RTAFB during the Vietnam War.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's DM was rated appropriately, but his PTSD warranted a higher rating from May 14, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and residuals of fracture of the left middle finger are currently rated at their maximum levels. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity and symptomatology of his conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection based on his combat experiences in Vietnam. The claims for erectile dysfunction and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was managed by restricted diet from January 22, 2007 to February 22, 2007. From February 23, 2007 to May 7, 2007, he received a 10 percent rating for diabetes mellitus, type II. Since May 8, 2007, the Veteran has been rated at 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II. Service connection was granted for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper and lower extremities secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board denied service connection on a direct basis as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Korea and insufficient medical nexus to establish a link between current conditions and service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II or hypertension due to lack of evidence of a current disability and no link to service, including exposure to herbicides. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart problems, lung cancer, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for a Board video-conference hearing. The claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is not about service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination of his hearing loss disability. The issues of increased ratings for diabetes, hypertension, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are also being addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus with complications such as hypertension, macular edema, cataracts, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus with hypertension has been rated at 20 percent since August 1, 2007.,Chronic diarrhea due to type II diabetes mellitus is rated separately and assigned a 10 percent rating.,Gastroesophageal reflux disease with dyspepsia and gastroparesis was initially rated as noncompensable prior to June 22, 2011. A separate 30 percent rating has been granted since that date.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease with dyspepsia and gastroparesis is not entitled to a higher rating from June 22, 2011.