Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since July 7, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to issues related to his hiatal hernia with diverticulosis of the colon and atrial fibrillation. The current ratings do not fully reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board found no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or hypertension, and thus denied service connection for both conditions. The Veteran's assertions about the onset of these conditions in service were not supported by contemporaneous medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for depressive disorder with alcohol disorder is granted, and the issues of service connection for macular degeneration (on a new and material basis), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, skin disorder, onychomycosis, residuals of right index finger disability, and GERD are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and its residuals, residuals of a gunshot wound to the throat, and right ear hearing loss. The appeal was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction and peripheral vascular disease does not warrant a higher evaluation than 20 percent. The issues regarding an aid and attendance allowance for his spouse have been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, coronary artery disease, and service connection for sinusitis, low back disorder, neuropathy of the hands and feet, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The VA examinations indicated that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, specifically for the USS Coral Sea. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, found that the Veteran's hypertension warranted a 10% rating but not an increased one, and did not establish an effective date prior to October 31, 2012, for his TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam or along the DMZ of Korea, and thus could not be presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. The claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence linking any claimed conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a medical opinion regarding renal function improvement and proper notice of proposed rating reduction.

The Board denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes, eczema, fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, GERD, back disability, and knee disability. The Veteran's claim for diabetes was reopened due to new evidence submitted after the December 2013 denial.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the right and left hands, as well as for diabetic neuropathy of the right and left feet, were denied. The Veteran was also denied a higher rating for his PTSD.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions are rated based on their severity under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. However, the evidence does not support a finding that his service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. The case will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a toxicologist regarding potential herbicide exposure and examining the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo and is considering multiple other claims, including those related to sleep apnea, Peyronie's disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, liver condition, COPD, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a chronic disability related to pre-diabetes and hyperglycemia. The Veteran has not met the criteria for service connection in all cases.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating greater than 70 percent for service-connected depression has been withdrawn. The Board also granted the Veteran a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his combined disabilities preventing him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder, diagnosed as status post right knee replacement, is at least as likely as not due to his in-service injuries. The claims for diabetes mellitus type II and skin cancer are being remanded for additional development.