Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for erectile dysfunction was reopened, service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure is denied, hypertension and onychomycosis of the left nail are not granted, but a higher rating of 20% for left foot plantar fasciitis from January 25, 2018 is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence that he filed a claim before the assigned effective dates.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition and remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The case is now being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the claim for diabetes mellitus is moot.

Your appeals for service connection have been remanded due to the addition of new VA medical records. Your case will be returned to the RO for initial review and readjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) with erectile dysfunction, finding that the OSA is proximately due to or aggravated by his DMII.

The Veteran's DM rating was restored from 20% to 40%, effective February 13, 2012. The Board found the reduction in rating proper and denied restoration of a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure during service. The appeal is based on presumptive service connection under the Agent Orange Act.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there is no current diagnosis of the condition and thus no basis to grant compensation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic ischemic small vessel disease (claimed as white matter brain disease) and mini stroke disorder are granted. The appeals for higher ratings for loss of taste, diabetes mellitus, removal of the gall bladder, and earlier effective dates for diabetic nephropathy and diabetes mellitus type II have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions as they have become moot due to his death.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a deviated nasal septum and sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service nose injuries. The claim for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew it prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy are at least as likely as not of such severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam, and thus is not entitled to presumptive service connection for any of his claimed conditions based on herbicide exposure. The claims are being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of service connection.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the likelihood of herbicide exposure in Thailand. The claims for service connection for a heart disability and diabetes mellitus are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for accrued benefits, service connection for cause of death, and death pension due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the diabetes rating remains at 20 percent. The case is remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of the diabetes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding whether hypertension is secondary to service-connected disabilities, specifically ischemic heart disease, PTSD, diabetes, hearing loss and tinnitus, or chronic migraine headaches.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was rated at 20% prior to August 18, 2014, and increased to 40% thereafter. The appeal is denied as the disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.