Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service connected, while hyperglycemia and cervical spine disability are denied. Diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea were not diagnosed during the appeal period.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was not incurred or aggravated during service and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents. The Board denied the claim as there is insufficient evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the other claims due to insufficient evidence on their merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of herbicide exposure and a need for a new VA opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange. The claims are inextricably intertwined with a claim for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's kidney disorder is being remanded for a VA examiner to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for annual VA clothing allowances due to use of diabetic shoes and custom insoles/orthotics, as well as skin medications. The decision is based on the VHA Handbook 1173.15 which states that these items do not tend to wear or tear clothing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service. Service connection is also granted for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's appeals seeking service connection for brain tumor and increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, GERD, and hypertension have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, Hypertensive Vascular Disease (claimed as High Blood Pressure), and Diabetes Mellitus due to lack of a VA examination for psychiatric disorders. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and diabetes. The examiner will need to address these issues.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, all of which the Veteran claimed were due to in-service herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during his active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) and evaluation in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD). The ED case requires a VA medical opinion on whether it is caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The CAD case requires an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and idiopathic thrombocpenic purpura were dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a mood disorder and PTSD. The claims for service connection for a back disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type 2 are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes, allergic rhinitis, and a headache disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not related to exposure to herbicide agents and is not aggravated by diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Veteran's bilateral recurrent tinnitus is granted service connection. The appeals for CAD, hypertensive vascular disease, and diabetes are dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran. Service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted with a rating of 30 percent prior to July 1, 2015.