Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 was denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure or a nexus to service. The other claims were either granted or denied.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for various disabilities and increased ratings. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to a fall during service, but no VA examiner has provided an opinion on this issue yet. His right ear hearing loss may be related to in-service noise exposure. His diabetes and erectile dysfunction are not caused by or worsened by his hypertension. A remand for further examination and development of records is required.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, PTSD symptomatology, bilateral hearing loss disability, and physical disabilities make it impossible for him to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus with weight loss, numbness of both hands, or an undiagnosed illness manifested by a skin rash. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure requires further development and remand.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC benefits. The appeals are remanded for further development on several issues, including service connection claims and rating determinations.

The Board has determined that the VA addendum opinion is inadequate and remands the case for a new medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's atrial fibrillation was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PVD, residuals of a right foot amputation, and left knee total replacement due to conflicting medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, and hypertension as they are not related to the veteran's military service. The character of discharge due to willful and persistent misconduct bars VA benefits for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is limited to a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board finds that a new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of his condition and whether 'regulation of activities' is shown by medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II and erectile dysfunction. The decision found that new evidence did not present a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for diabetes mellitus, and that there was no medical evidence to support an etiological relationship between erectile dysfunction and hypertension.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is manifested by pure tone threshold averages and speech recognition scores that correspond to no more than Level 1 impairment in the left ear and Level 1 impairment in the right ear. Therefore, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, does not require insulin or regulation of activities as part of medical management. Thus, a rating higher than 20 percent is denied.

The claim to reopen service connection for type 1 diabetes has been denied. The increased compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of PTSD, an acquired psychiatric condition including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type 2, and hypertension as secondary to PTSD or diabetes mellitus type 2 due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as they are not related to the Veteran's active duty service.,Service connection was also denied for amputation of the toes and right leg due to a diabetic foot ulcer.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal condition, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease have been granted. The issues of service connection for basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and anemia are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as service connected, but the other conditions and issues are not.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as his pulmonary fibrosis is not shown to be related to service or any service-connected condition.