Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are rated at their maximum levels. The Veteran's breathing problems and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and onychomycosis are service-connected. The heart disability claim is denied. Service connection for insomnia disorder is granted. The hypertension claim is remanded due to missing records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his ability to work with his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right thumb disability, back disability, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to new evidence from VA medical records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to August 21, 2018. From August 21, 2018, the Veteran's bilateral anterior cortical cataracts were granted a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been rated at 20 percent since January 20, 2015. The Board found that the current level of disability requires an increased rating to 40 percent due to insulin and restricted diet requirements.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, as there is no evidence linking his cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The appeal of the increased rating for type II diabetes mellitus is dismissed. The reduction in evaluation for coronary artery disease was not proper, and a restoration of the 60 percent disability rating is granted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains pending.

The claim for service connection for a back disability is reopened, but the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, and erectile dysfunction are denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as it did not manifest during or within one year after service and there is no evidence of a link between the condition and service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed due to in-service herbicide exposure and service connection is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disabilities, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy in the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction was restored.,Service connection for diabetic retinopathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus was denied.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus secondary to Agent Orange exposure, finding that new and material evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of private treatment records for the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, which are necessary to make an informed decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back degenerative disc disease, deep vein thrombosis of the legs, type 2 diabetes mellitus, brain tumor with scar, and skin disability. The claims are being remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 50% evaluation, effective from the date of claim. The diabetes mellitus type II remains rated at 20%. A TDIU rating is granted starting August 7, 2015.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as it is aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as it is aggravated by his service-connected depressive disorder.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy (bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome) is denied as it is not attributable to service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent and no higher, as he does not require insulin or restriction of activities.,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was granted effective March 31, 2014. The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The claims for right ear hearing loss, left elbow and wrist disabilities, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, melanoma, and upper extremity carpal tunnel syndromes are all denied.