Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board has not found the criteria for a higher rating to be met.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not present in service or within a year of discharge, and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. The Board denied the claims for diabetes mellitus, parathyroid abnormality, kidney stones, elevated calcium levels, hypertension, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypersensitivity to light as they were not shown to be due to herbicide exposure or any other basis.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70% disability rating from January 28, 2010 to March 28, 2012. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular evaluation for his service-connected diabetic retinopathy with postoperative cataracts associated with diabetes mellitus is being remanded to allow for further consideration by VA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent, as it is manageable by diet and insulin without requiring regulation of activities, episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of verification regarding herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being reviewed again with new information.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether diabetes is secondary to gout and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected gout.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's glaucoma is proximately caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for glaucoma.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain updated medical records and provide an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's PTSD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral cataracts, including as due to diabetes mellitus type II. The remand is required because the October 2010 VA examination did not address whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes had aggravated his cataracts.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 15, 2010. The RO denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and sleep apnea in the May 2011 rating decision. Service connection was granted for these conditions in subsequent decisions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is service connected. The Board also found that the Veteran has other conditions related to his diabetes and remanded for further examination.

The Veteran was not in receipt of, nor entitled to receive, compensation for service-connected disability that was continuously rated totally disabling for a period of 10 or more years immediately preceding death. Therefore, the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus requires insulin and a restricted diet, but not regulation of his activities. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII) and therefore denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds this rating to be appropriate.,Effective March 16, 2009, the Veteran was granted service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy.,Effective March 16, 2009, the Veteran was granted service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy.,Effective March 16, 2009, the Veteran was granted service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy.,No effective date earlier than March 16, 2009, is warranted for left lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a comprehensive VA medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of in-service or post-service continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to June 27, 2012 is also denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis.