Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder and Parkinson's disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing certificate is granted. The special home adaptation grant claim is denied as moot.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss. The issues of hypertension (claimed as secondary to diabetes), sleep apnea, and degenerative joint disease of the knees are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus Type II was not incurred in service and is not etiologically related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran did not have herbicide exposure during service, and thus cannot establish a claim based on presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy proximately caused or aggravated his hypertension. Therefore, service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for diabetes mellitus and PTSD are denied as they do not meet the legal criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and addressing inconsistencies in previous reports. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to February 9, 2015 is also before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD, diabetes, or bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service. The head injury residuals claim is denied, and the right leg neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the combined effects of diabetes mellitus with PTSD, sensorineural hearing loss; and diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities warrant an extraschedular rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hepatitis, and a skin disability. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as the appeal is moot due to his death.

The Board has determined that the appellant is recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of entitlement to DIC benefits and that the criteria for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death have been met.

The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy has been rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 8513 for moderate incomplete paralysis of all radicular nerves. The right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied due to the lack of service connection for his coronary artery disease. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence, including VA treatment records from specific time periods.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran seeks SMC in excess of the intermediate rate between 38 U.S.C. � 1114(n) and (o) plus (k). The case is REMANDED to determine if the Veteran needs regular aid and attendance or a higher level of care due to service-connected disabilities.