Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate examination report and failure to address a specific opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension, service-connected diabetes mellitus, and PTSD.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and his eligibility for educational assistance under Chapter 35 of the United States Code is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a full grant of benefits by the RO in February 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II. The Veteran's other claims are pending and will be readjudicated after obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and diabetes mellitus are being remanded as the VA examinations have not been conducted to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as evidenced by his significant limitations due to his service-connected lower extremity disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, but it is unable to grant the claim as there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, fingernail and toenail disabilities, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), a neck disability, a back disability, bilateral knee disability, sinusitis, and skin disability are denied. The Veteran is granted service connection for flat feet.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the Nashville, Tennessee RO. The issues include service connection claims and reopening of a diabetes claim.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance was denied as he is not in need of regular aid and attendance by another individual.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and it does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus and related conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is manifested by the need for daily insulin injections and dietary restrictions, without regulation of activities. The initial rating of 20 percent has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, and impotence/erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicides or any other basis for establishing service connection.

Service connection for left trigger finger and right trigger finger has been granted with effective dates of October 26, 2006 and August 6, 2007 respectively. Service connection for pes planus was reopened and granted with an effective date of October 26, 2006. Service connection for sleep apnea and left tibial tendon dysfunction has been granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type I, and left shoulder brachial neuritis do not warrant higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his diabetes mellitus claim.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to have been incurred during active military service, and he has bilateral foot fungus that the VA examiner opines may be related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral foot fungus remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain any form of gainful employment from February 25, 2010, to November 8, 2012.