Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining service records and VA treatment records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus are also remanded.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated in service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on its current manifestations.

The Board found it not factually ascertainable that the Veteran had loss of use of both lower extremities prior to June 30, 2015, for which SMC at R-1 rate was awarded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 22, 2012.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder with PTSD, which was initially rated as 30 percent disabling and later increased to 70 percent effective April 5, 2000, is granted. The effective date for the 70 percent rating remains April 5, 2000.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his personnel records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II, as due to herbicide exposure is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of entitlement to service connection for cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea during a hearing before the Board. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his ability to work given his service-connected disabilities and an evaluation of his educational and employment history.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes is aggravated by his current diarrhea, and therefore grants service connection for diarrhea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of mononucleosis, and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA's criteria for hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and due process issues, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's employability.

The Veteran's claim for a separate, compensable rating for bilateral retinopathy associated with his service-connected Type II Diabetes Mellitus was denied. The earlier effective date claim for the initial 10 percent rating for bilateral open-angle glaucoma was granted.

The Veteran's bilateral diabetic retinopathy is currently rated at 20 percent effective June 26, 2015. Ratings for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy remain unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities, including insomnia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, a gastrointestinal disability (hiatal hernia), major depressive disorder, TDIU, and Dependents' Educational Assistance. The Board has determined that these claims should be remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for DM II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits were denied across multiple conditions and disabilities. The appeal is not about any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, or other specific bases.