Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that there was no current diagnosis of the condition during or in proximity to the appeal period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a higher evaluation for DJD of the left knee, and a higher evaluation for left medial meniscectomy with moderate instability.

The Veteran's pulmonary disease, related to asbestos exposure and asthma, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic nephropathy. The VA examiner opined that the preponderance of medical literature does not establish a causal relationship between drinking contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and the development of chronic kidney disease in the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, and neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that his combined disability rating meets the threshold for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric, to include PTSD, and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities are being remanded for further review.,Service connection is also being remanded for loss of smell, a sleep disorder, liver disability, memory loss, diabetic nephropathy, voiding dysfunction, stasis dermatitis, Dependents’ Educational Assistance award, SMC for loss of use of a creative organ, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it had its onset in service or is otherwise etiologically related to active service, including in-service cold weather exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate as there is no evidence of regulation of activities required for management.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to PTSD with major depression and panic attacks and generalized anxiety is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 related to chemical exposure at Fort McClellan is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file for making a decision regarding service connection of seizure disorder secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no medical basis to conclude that his death was related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and TBI were granted. The decision also denied the claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since February 1, 2012. The Board finds that the criteria for a finding of a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 (b) have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and bilateral flatfoot, are being remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection is also being remanded for incomplete paralysis of the left and right sciatic nerves.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities cause a level of impairment such that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump at the site of election below the knees, with use of a suitable prosthetic appliance. The Veteran is also in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right eye arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy was rated at 20 percent prior to September 27, 2005. The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for this condition. For the period from September 5, 2002 through July 14, 2010, the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities alone at any point during the appeal period.