Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hearing loss. The Veteran's PTSD is also being remanded.

The Veteran's death was caused by lactic acidosis due to acute kidney injury with hyperkalemia, which is presumed to be related to service exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam. The AOJ needs to verify if the Veteran went ashore at Da Nang during his service on USS Lipan and request relevant personnel records.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 6, 1993 for the grant of service connection for a back injury. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II has been reopened and is granted. The case is remanded to further investigate the Veteran's claimed stations of service and exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes are related to his military service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The VA examiner did not provide an opinion on whether the Veteran’s exposure to ionizing radiation in service resulted in his current diagnoses of hypertension and diabetes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis in multiple joints to include lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and bilateral wrists; an eye disability (cataracts); a CVA; chronic kidney disease; hypertension; diabetes mellitus, type II; peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities; peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities; and CAD. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for arthritis in multiple joints.

The Board denied service connection for Diabetes Mellitus and a right foot condition, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded for further development and opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claims, including those related to toxin exposure at Giessen Army Depot in Germany.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the R-1 rate for special aid and attendance prior to October 3, 2017, and SMC at the R-2 rate thereafter. The decision is based on his service-connected disabilities including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 20 percent and the Board has found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The issues of increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, major depressive disorder, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective January 17, 2012. The Board found that the evidence was at least evenly balanced as to whether his service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since January 17, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and missing military records. The Veteran's death is attributed to congestive heart failure, but his service-connected conditions are unclear. Further investigation into the cause of death and pre-existing disabilities is needed.

The Veteran's application to reopen her claim of service connection for DM is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted, reopening the claim. However, the claims for service connection for osteoporosis and a skin condition are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and diverticulitis were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals. The claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability (fibromyalgia) was granted, effective from August 6, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and a special home adaptation grant are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes were granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of a confirmed diagnosis.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded for an addendum VA opinion to determine if it was caused by the topical steroid medication prescribed at the San Juan VAMC.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related directly to service. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion on this matter.

The Veteran's rating for nephropathy associated with type II diabetes mellitus was reduced from 60 percent to noncompensable effective January 1, 2013. The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.