Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and Boutonniere deformity of both little (5th) fingers, rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, COPD, carpal tunnel syndromes, and kidney failure. The evidence submitted since the final decisions raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD alone warrants a TDIU (100 percent) rating, and his additional disabilities associated with diabetes mellitus result in a combined rating of 70 percent or more. Therefore, he meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's neck condition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, headaches (claimed as brain damage), and acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's herbicide exposure in Korea and outside of the DMZ. The claim will be further developed before being readjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and skin rashes as they are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple myeloma, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction as a result of herbicide exposure in service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for diabetes mellitus type II has been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board finds that the criteria for secondary service connection are met.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, bowel incontinence associated with prostate cancer is rated at 30 percent, and voiding dysfunction due to prostate cancer is rated at 20 percent. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including a supplemental medical opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for multiple myeloma was dismissed as he withdrew his claim.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active service.

The Veteran's claims for asthma, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and skin cancer on hands, face, and neck were denied as there was no new and material evidence received to reopen the claims. The skin cancer claim is also denied due to lack of service connection.

The Veteran's disabilities were not service-connected, but he received a combined non-service-connected disability rating of 40%. The claim for accrued benefits is denied as there was no pending claim at the time of his death.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disorder and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus II, finding that the disorders are not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus disability is rated at 40 percent effective November 13, 2015. The left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent since February 6, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of VA examination and treatment records, and for further development.

The case is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and additional records. The Veteran's diabetic dermopathy and bilateral hearing loss are the issues at hand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicide agents in Korea. The presumption of service connection applies if there is factual evidence supporting such exposure.