Diabetes decisions — 2018

The reduction of the disability rating for diabetic retinopathy from 50 percent to 10 percent was proper, and restoration of the 50 percent rating is denied. A Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) has been granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, requires further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his diabetes mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathy, as well as TDIU prior to February 12, 2013, are being remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU as of February 28, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, breathing problems, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his military service or exposure to chemicals in service.,The Board also denied service connection for breathing problems and sleep apnea, attributing these conditions to known clinical diagnoses rather than undiagnosed illnesses.

The Veteran's capsaicin cream is not used for a service-connected skin condition, so he does not qualify for a clothing allowance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right leg amputation, and diabetes, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU as of May 17, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet (claimed as ankle condition) has been reopened and granted. The claims for hypertension, hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, and sarcoidosis have all been denied.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, finding that the earliest date entitlement arose was July 22, 2010.,The claim for a 10% disability rating for diabetes mellitus type II must be dismissed as it is not related to service connection.

Service connection is denied for sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and mental disorder (claimed as a psychiatric condition). The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent since May 23, 2017.,The claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for shortness of breath, congestive heart failure, end stage renal disease, allergies, and diabetes mellitus due to additional development being warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for melanoma was denied, and his diabetes mellitus rating remains at 20%.

The Veteran appeals for a higher rating for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and its related conditions, including erectile dysfunction and onychomycosis of bilateral toes. The current examination does not reflect the need for regulation of activities due to DM.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The diabetes mellitus type II remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 2017.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left foot cellulitis is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it began during active service or is related to an in-service disease, injury, or event.,The Veteran's increased rating claims for chronic gastritis and type II diabetes mellitus are denied. The evidence shows no symptoms warranting a higher than 20 percent disability rating for chronic gastritis, and the Veteran's diabetes does not require treatment with prescribed regulation of activities.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for benign prostatic hypertrophy is denied as there was no voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection noted in his medical records during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the legal definition of a 'veteran' for VA compensation purposes due to lack of active service, and therefore, his claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's DM with ED requires the use of insulin and a restricted diet, but there is no evidence that he has been advised to restrict his activities due to his disability. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran has not required restriction of activities due to his DM.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for cause of death due to diabetes mellitus type II and renal insufficiency. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and a new opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his death.