Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II due to new evidence submitted. However, these claims are still pending as further medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, COPD, irritable bowel syndrome, and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience. The TDIU claim is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a testicular problem, including erectile dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The appeals pertaining to various conditions and service connection issues have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's Vietnam service and the basis for his heart condition. The claim for diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide exposure is also being remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and verification of his service on the USS Uhlmann in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for tuberculosis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis due to insufficient evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary artery disease, and kidney cancer have been denied. The Board found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to new and material evidence. The claims for sleep disorder, diabetes mellitus, residuals of left fibula fracture, neuritis of the left foot, and left ankle scars are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, which is secondary to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus.

Service connection is granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, anxiety, and a respiratory disability (lungs). An earlier effective date for service connection for anxiety is denied. A TDIU rating is granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, chronic laryngitis, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service or exposure to toxic contaminants.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and sustaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, hypertension, acid reflux, pain in the bilateral feet, pain in the bilateral legs, and a nerve disability have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during active service or within one year following discharge.,While some medical records suggested possible diagnoses, they were not sufficient to establish continuity of symptomatology or a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, have been granted. However, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of current disability. The initial ratings for other conditions are also denied.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, GERD, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, bladder disability / urinary frequency, skin disability of the hands and feet, and diarrhea due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes is not causally related to his military service or any aspect of it.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease, multiple myeloma, diabetes mellitus type II, and Parkinson’s disease. The decision also denied his claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and fecal incontinence, as well as his claim for TDIU. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is granted. The Veteran's DM is not entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to December 18, 2013, and not entitled to a rating in excess of 40 percent beginning December 18, 2013. The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is not entitled to a higher than 30 percent rating.