Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Veteran's diabetes requires insulin and a restricted diet, but does not require regulation of activities. The criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent are not met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and Social Security Administration records. A VA medical opinion is also needed to determine if the Veteran's diabetes or renal failure are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new examinations and a Social and Industrial Survey.

The Board denied all issues on appeal, including the propriety of reducing a rating for arthritis of the PIP joint of the left ring finger.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and claudication of the lower extremities were denied as they are not related to his military service. The Board found that he did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back disability. A social and industrial survey will also be conducted to determine if he can secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, provide proper VCAA notice, and schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, obesity, right ear hearing loss, and chronic sinusitis is not warranted.,Left ear hearing loss has been granted but remains non-compensable.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus and/or coronary artery disease (CAD).,Diabetic retinopathy is found to be related to diabetes mellitus.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a service connection for chronic bronchitis.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetes mellitus type 2, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The RO has already awarded special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ due to service-connected erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and residuals of prostate cancer with voiding dysfunction have all been granted service connection effective June 4, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction. However, the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and thus could not establish service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions based on Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran is found unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board grants a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and diabetic nephropathy are currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus due to withdrawal by the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and right foot Charcot deformity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his service-connected conditions and whether new evidence supports reopening his epididymitis claim.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective October 20, 2008. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment as of October 20, 2008.