Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that a new medical opinion is necessary to address the onset and progression of the Veteran's diabetes and hypertension. The claims are REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has the education and work history to perform sedentary administrative duties.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents. The kidney condition is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to or aggravated by the diabetes.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Diabetes Mellitus, Type II due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's conditions are being evaluated by VA doctors.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including service connection for various conditions and evaluations. The appellant is seeking to have her application as the claimant substituted due to her spouse's death.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for right knee, right leg, lumbar spine, and right eye disabilities due to new evidence indicating their severity may have changed since the last VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide agent exposure in Okinawa, Japan. The Veteran's diabetes is being reviewed on a presumptive basis for herbicide exposure.

The Board dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus (secondary to PTSD), hypertension (secondary to PTSD), asthma, and a right foot disability were denied. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left ankle fracture was granted with a 10% rating effective July 31, 2008. Service connection for PTSD was granted with a 50% rating effective March 26, 2014. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to March 26, 2014 was also granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is currently rated at 20 percent and does not require a regulation of activities. The Board denied a higher rating as the medical evidence does not support the need for such restriction.

The Veteran's hypertension requires continuous medication and has a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from Atlantic Occupational Health and Kmart.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities rated at least 60%, qualifies him for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for kidney disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, right forearm fracture residuals, right wrist disorder, and right ankle disorder. The diabetes claim is also remanded. VA treatment records from the 1980s are requested as well as any private medical records prior to 1988.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disorder, esophageal cancer, diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The remand requires further development of evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded due to the need for a new examination and the provision of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has maintained employment in various fields despite his psychiatric and diabetes conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating, but his representative argues that they have worsened since he was last examined by VA. The Board finds that contemporaneous examinations are necessary to assess the current severity of his disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for service connection for congestive heart failure and a right eye disability (to include stroke) are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, diabetes mellitus type II, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The effective dates for these determinations were set at January 26, 2012, May 14, 2012, respectively.