Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with non-proliferative retinopathy and erectile dysfunction warrants a rating in excess of 20 percent, but further development is needed to determine if regulation of activities due to diabetes mellitus requires a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the Veteran's claims can be decided, including obtaining legible copies of service medical records and a VA examination for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral diabetic retinopathy and denied service connection for glaucoma. Bilateral diabetic retinopathy is found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, while glaucoma is not proximately due to or aggravated by diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to an outstanding hearing request by the Veteran. The Veteran is entitled to a videoconference hearing on his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus requires insulin and a restricted diet, but not regulation of activities. The current rating of 20 percent is appropriate.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and disc herniation, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the period from June 16, 2004, to November 13, 2005. His disability rating for his lumbar spine condition is 40 percent on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis with arthritis, celiac spruce and anemia (claimed as weakened/vulnerable immune system and stomach problems), diabetes mellitus, type II due to Agent Orange exposure, and peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure and service-connected disabilities has been granted.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for cause of death due to lack of new and material evidence, including the Appellant's lay assertions that her husband's diabetes was related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have rheumatoid arthritis related to service. The claims for diabetes mellitus, voiding dysfunction (chronic urinary tract infections), finger disabilities of the left hand, finger disabilities of the right hand, and lumbar spine disability are all granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus has been granted, with the effective date set at September 22, 2010. The Board found that no prior pending claim or adjudication existed to support retroactive adjustment of the effective date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and affording the Veteran an opportunity to submit evidence. The claim will be adjudicated in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or presence of the condition during his period of active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is service-connected and his left ankle disability has been rated at 10 percent prior to April 3, 2009.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is rated at 20 percent, and the reduction of his diabetic retinopathy rating from 10% to noncompensable effective November 9, 2009 was proper. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated as 10%, and his diabetic nephropathy associated with diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction prior to January 28, 2015 is rated at 60%. His peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and right lower extremity are each rated at 10%. The Veteran's hypertension is not separately service-connected.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be sepsis syndrome with underlying causes including coagulopathy, respiratory failure, and severe metabolic acidosis. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure or service-connected conditions that caused the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 10 percent, effective June 25, 2012. The disability picture is fully addressed by the current rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus appeal is being remanded as records from Sierra Endocrine Associates may support his claim for an increase in disability rating.,The Veteran's left knee arthritis appeal is being remanded to determine if there has been any worsening of symptoms since the last VA examination in October 2007.,The Veteran's right little finger and right knee disabilities are being remanded as evidence may support a secondary service connection claim.,The Veteran's TDIU appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his other appeals.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.