Diabetes decisions — 2018

All claims for service connection are denied except for the grant of service connection for headaches, which is granted. The Veteran's enlarged prostate and neurobehavioral effects are not found to be related to his military service. His sleep apnea claim is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left leg disability, right leg disability, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes mellitus, heart disorder (claimed as ischemic heart disease), Parkinson's disease, hairy cell leukemia, and acquired psychiatric disability. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for diabetes and for PTSD. The Board dismissed the appeals as a result.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 4, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathy due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for reexamination to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and its complications, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated erectile dysfunction, as well as his peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities, are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's foot wound and rash were treated at a private hospital due to the urgency of his condition, which was exacerbated by uncontrolled diabetes. The decision grants payment for the medical services provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus and osteomyelitis, as she believes they are related to a December 1982 cholecystectomy performed by VA. The opinion provided did not address whether the carelessness or negligence on the part of VA was at issue.

The Veteran's heart attack treatment at Bryan Medical Center was eligible for VA reimbursement as it occurred during an emergency and prior authorization was granted within 72 hours of admission.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claimed exposure to herbicides. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 7, 2015 is denied, as is a rating in excess of 10 percent from October 7, 2015 to May 16, 2016 and a rating in excess of 30 percent on or after May 17, 2016 for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that service connection is not granted for respiratory disorder, diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, and Charcot disease of the right foot. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful employment prior to December 18, 2009.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes, an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes on an extraschedular basis, and a TDIU. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The effective dates for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability, hypertension, bladder cancer, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The issues of secondary service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and sleep apnea) to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea to include as secondary to service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder were also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The appeal for TDIU has been remanded due to incomplete information regarding his employment history.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service. The deck logs for April 27 and 28, 1972, need to be obtained from both the USS Roark and USS Samuel Gompers.