Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities due to conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II, and because no VA examiner has provided an opinion on whether the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of diabetes mellitus, type II; basal cell carcinoma (claimed as skin cancer); right hip disorder; right knee disorder; and right ankle disorders has been dismissed. The remaining claims for service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran also received a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the initial rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's claims file needs to be updated with recent VA treatment records, and he must undergo another VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes, and back issues, combine to make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined impact of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a prostate condition and diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure at Camp Lejeune. The missing service treatment records need to be located, as well as any VA treatment records from 1968-1970.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and osteoarthritis of the right knee due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any incident therein. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, but remanded the issue of service connection for ischemic heart disease due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that all issues on appeal must be remanded to ensure proper development, including obtaining service personnel records and private treatment records. VA examinations are also required for the Veteran's claims of service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's death was not caused by service, a service-connected disability, or VA medical care. The Board denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and the DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to uncertainty about the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Korea, which is necessary to determine his service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD and diabetes mellitus were not found to warrant higher initial ratings. The right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathies, however, met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected hypertension caused his death by congestive heart failure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was granted a staged rating of 20 percent prior to November 30, 2015 and 40 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, Type II are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a currently diagnosed cardiac disability, diabetes mellitus, or bilateral hearing loss present in service or within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are denied as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a link to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of higher ratings for type II diabetes mellitus and psoriasis associated with type II diabetes mellitus, as well as the claim for a TDIU.