Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a right foot disability were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides, the current conditions are not related to service or service-connected disabilities, and the claim for secondary service connection is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 1, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is at least as likely as not related to his in-service case of rubella. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU remains remanded due to unclear employment history.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be reviewed to determine if an extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and myopathic syndrome were not incurred during a period of active duty service or within one year after discharge. The Board denied the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or loss of use of upper or lower extremities, blindness in both eyes, anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands, deep partial or full thickness or subdermal burns, or residuals of an inhalation injury. Therefore, he is not entitled to specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a vocational specialist examination to assess the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. His diabetes mellitus type II is not related to his military service, and the Board finds no evidence of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Veteran's respiratory disorder claim was not addressed as it does not specify a condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for post-operative residuals of lumbar spine disorder, diabetes mellitus, an acquired mental disorder (presumably including cognitive disorder NOS and depressive disorder NOS), seizure disorder, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disability. The claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss was denied as the Veteran's hearing did not meet VA criteria for hearing loss. The claims for an increased rating for bilateral knee disability and entitlement to TDIU were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, left femur disability, right radius disability, and left radius and ulna disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection or higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, left hand disorder, and right knee disorder. The claim for left knee disorder is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate previous medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus could have aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran and his representative have withdrawn the appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and retinopathy associated with diabetes mellitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of reopening his previously denied diabetes mellitus claim and has determined that service connection is warranted for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues regarding an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU. The Board finds that further development is necessary, including a neuropsychological examination to determine the relationship between the Veteran's cognitive disorder and his service-connected PTSD.