Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes and its complications. The TDIU claim must also be remanded due to the impact on the diabetes rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have manifested in a permanent loss of use of his feet, and the Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only are met.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for varicose veins was granted. The claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's diabetes was diagnosed during a period of ACDUTRA, while his hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown to be related to active duty or ACDUTRA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid disorder, asthma, eczema, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disability (likely PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, and heart disease. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for keloids of the left ear and neck.

The Veteran's DMII and DDO have been granted service connection, but the claim for a higher rating for DDO remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for type II diabetes mellitus was denied, as the evidence did not show that his condition required regulation of activities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease of both lower extremities, sinus disorder (allergic rhinitis), asthma, arthritis, intestinal tumors, GERD, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, diabetic neuropathy in all four extremities, migraine headaches, and disability manifested by night sweats are not service connected due to lack of evidence supporting their onset or etiology related to military service.,The Veteran's skin disorders (claimed as acne and skin growths) are service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's vision loss disability is not causally or etiologically related to active service and is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II does not require usage of insulin for medical treatment and therefore the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and the need for addendum opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and providing new VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection for his eye disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a gunshot wound to the left arm, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 8, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on secondary to herbicide exposure has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus are not the proximate cause of or aggravated his hypertension. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction was denied by the Board. The evidence showed that his diabetes required oral hypoglycemics and a restricted diet, but not regulation of activities or hospitalizations.