Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Veteran is found to meet the criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, but does not meet the criteria for housebound status.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus requires regulation of activities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate development of his diabetes mellitus and related complications, as well as the need for VA examinations regarding kidney/renal disorders. The effective dates for service connection for tinea pedis and peripheral neuropathy are also under consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, and tinnitus, resulted in functional impairment sufficient to preclude gainful employment from July 29, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran met the schedular criteria for a TDIU at this time.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of 40 percent or more for service-connected diabetes mellitus type two has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred or aggravated by service-connected disabilities and denied his claim for service connection on a secondary basis. The derivative TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's atrial fibrillation is rated at 60 percent, effective June 8, 2012. The Board found that the symptoms of the service-connected atrial fibrillation meet the schedular criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse was granted a disability rating of 70 percent effective May 23, 2006. The TDIU claim is granted from May 23, 2006 to August 13, 2007 due to the combined effect of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral lower extremities peripheral vascular disease (PVD) as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, finding that PVD was aggravated by his diabetes.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, a sleep disorder, and increased rating for prostate cancer residuals due to new evidence and factual findings.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant an increase in this rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy were not related to his service, and the Board denied these claims. The claim for high cholesterol was also denied as it is not a disease or injury.,There is no evidence of record linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the need for insulin and regulation of activities.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus has been rated at 20 percent since the appeal period began, and there is no evidence of a need for a higher rating due to regulation of activities or other complications. The erectile dysfunction does not warrant an additional compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, ischemic heart disease, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and degenerative joint disease/osteoarthritis of the whole body, were denied as there is no credible evidence supporting his assertions of in-service exposure to herbicides or captivity as a prisoner of war. The Veteran's statements are found to be unreliable due to inconsistencies with other evidence of record and facial implausibility.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and aid and attendance or housebound benefits for the Veteran's father. The matter is being remanded to consider whether the issue of entitlement to additional compensation for a dependent parent under 38 U.S.C. § 1115(D) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.4(b)(2) was reasonably raised by the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sick sinus syndrome and for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the March 10, 2010 rating decision that granted TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities.