Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claims for clubbing of toes, acute conjunctivitis, stomatitis, hypertension, DM, and coronary artery disease are all granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and will provide a new one with an opinion on whether glaucoma is related to herbicide exposure, diabetes mellitus, or both.

The Board has not found new and material evidence to reopen claims for service connection of diabetes, hypertension, or an eye disability. The Veteran's previous denials remain unchanged.

The Board denied service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as there was no evidence to support their onset during or within one year after military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service personnel records, need for additional VA examinations, and receipt of new evidence. The issues on appeal include service connection for various conditions including arthritis, bilateral cataracts, respiratory disorder, heart disease, hypertension, blood disorder, diabetes mellitus, and liver disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records, as well as examinations to determine the existence and etiology of various conditions.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right foot amputation and its relationship to service-connected conditions. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the determination of service connection.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence that the condition was caused by in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied as he does not meet the schedular requirements and has not provided information about his employment status.

The Veteran's bruxism is granted as secondary to PTSD. The remaining issues are remanded for further evidentiary development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further examination is needed.

The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of each lower extremity as a complication of service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's left shoulder disability and arthritis of the lumbar spine with limitation of motion, right knee arthritis, and diabetes mellitus, Type II with retinopathy are all remanded for further examination and rating.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 with erectile dysfunction, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right lower extremity and left lower extremity are all rated at 20 percent. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Board has determined that there is sufficient indication of current disabilities related to the Veteran's service and has ordered additional VA examinations to address his claims for service connection. The Veteran's mental condition, including PTSD, depression, fatigue, and sleep problems, as well as his gout, left knee strain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with pes anserine bursitis, and status post repair grade 2 strain right achilles tendonitis and normal healed surgical scar are being examined to determine their relationship to service.

The Board has denied a rating greater than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, but has remanded the issue of an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as claimed due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not establish in-service exposure or a nexus to service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus and a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, finding that the earliest allowable effective date is September 8, 2004. The Veteran's symptoms were found to be consistent with a 20 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. His combined rating is currently at 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claims for COPD and heart disability.,No specific rating or effective date was assigned in this decision.