Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, as secondary to service-connected hypothyroidism or sleep apnea due to insufficient reasoning in the June 2015 VA examination report.

The Board denied service connection for TBI and right knee disorder, but granted the reopening of claims for these conditions. Service connection was not established for DM, hypertension, chloracne, migraine headaches, peripheral neuropathy, or plantar fasciitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, which was a stroke due to or as a consequence of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), is service-connected. The Board found that there was at least as likely as not that the AML was caused by his conceded exposure to benzene and other chemical solvents during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. The Board found the June 2016 VA medical opinion more probative than the appellant's contentions regarding the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus due to any incident of his active duty service. The claims for sleep apnea and lumbosacral disc disease with left leg sciatica are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including DM with diabetic retinopathy and ED, CAD, CVA, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and renal dysfunction. The decision found no evidence of herbicide exposure in Korea and that the disorders were not shown in service or within one year of separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Cataracts, Erectile Dysfunction, Peripheral Neuropathy of Bilateral Hands, Peripheral Neuropathy of Bilateral Feet, and Hypertension have all been denied as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected psychiatric disorder and GERD, as well as the reopening of his claims for high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus have been remanded. The TDIU claim has also been added to the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for pancreatic disease, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, and hypertension due to in-service events. The Veteran's statements and medical records will be reviewed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 40 percent effective from May 3, 2018. Separate ratings of 20 percent are granted for peripheral neuropathies in the right and left upper extremities, bilateral cataracts and retinopathy, and angle-closure glaucoma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, acid reflux, and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis or link to military service for these conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for type 2 diabetes mellitus, nephropathy with hypertension associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathies, and PTSD. The appellant's conditions were rated based on their current manifestations without requiring additional treatment or hospitalization.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction due to diabetes mellitus II and/or hypertension and an atherosclerosis disease, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including a heart murmur and need for a pacemaker, is not service connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's heart disorder is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's above-the-knee amputation of the right leg is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is currently rated noncompensable, but a compensable rating is not warranted as the condition is controlled by medication.,The Veteran's right thigh abscess is currently rated 10 percent and no higher. The evidence does not support an increased rating due to lack of severe pain or involvement of multiple scars.,DMII has been rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no indication of regulation of activities.,Diabetic nephropathy has been rated at 30 percent and no higher. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of definite decrease in kidney function or hypertension with diastolic pressure predominantly 120 or more.,Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated 20 percent, but no higher. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as symptoms do not approximate at least moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is currently rated 20 percent, but no higher. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as symptoms do not approximate at least moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.,Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity with femoral nerve involvement is currently rated 20 percent, but no higher. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as symptoms do not approximate at least severe incomplete paralysis.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity with femoral nerve involvement is currently rated 20 percent, but no higher. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as symptoms do not approximate at least severe incomplete paralysis.,Parkinson's disease with tremor, muscle rigidity and stiffness of the right upper extremity and diabetic peripheral neuropathy has been rated 40 percent, but no higher. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of moderate incomplete paralysis in a major extremity.,Left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is currently rated 20 percent, but no higher. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as symptoms do not approximate at least moderate incomplete paralysis.,Loss of automatic movements has been rated 10 percent, but no higher. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of more than incomplete moderate paralysis.,Loss of smell due to Parkinson's disease is currently rated noncompensable as there is no indication of complete loss of smell.,Speech changes have been rated 10 percent, but no higher. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as symptoms do not approximate severe paralysis.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.