Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, finding that there was no credible evidence to support a nexus between her current diabetes and in-service gestational diabetes or any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and Parkinson's disease, both of which are presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, low back strain, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that he meets this criterion for TDIU.

The Veteran died from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which was not service-connected.,Service connection for the cause of death is denied as COPD, a non-service-connected condition, did not result from or contribute to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma of the left kidney, bony metastases, and cause of death due to renal cell carcinoma have been granted service connection.,The claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is rendered moot as it encompasses the same disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities has been granted, with the effective date set at December 30, 2002. The condition was initially diagnosed in a VA outpatient record from December 2002 and is considered to have arisen as a complication of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses at St. Elizabeth Medical Center from May 12, 2009 to May 15, 2009 are denied as he had another health-plan contract for payment or reimbursement of part of the expenses related to his left elbow injury.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist arthritis, diabetes mellitus type II, sleep apnea, and bilateral elbow bursitis. The Veteran does not have a diagnosed right wrist condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and diabetes mellitus were denied, as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The claim for an initial compensable rating for right upper extremity scars was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, lung cancer, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities were denied due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy, resulted in a combined 80% disability rating. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantial gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, both found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claim of entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability is REMANDED due to its inextricably intertwined nature with these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus prior to August 27, 2014 is dismissed as he has expressed satisfaction with the current rating.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus from August 27, 2014 is dismissed as he has expressed satisfaction with the current rating.

The Board found that diabetes mellitus with numbness did not have its clinical onset in service, was not exhibited within the first post-service year, is not the result of herbicide exposure in service, and is not otherwise related to active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that his TDIU request should be granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records related to the Veteran's SSDI benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral pes planus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and his active duty service.