Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to his case file.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and residuals of a right foot injury. The issues regarding initial evaluations for DJD/OA of the left knee and DDD of the spine are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, an acquired psychiatric disorder, colon cancer, and type II diabetes mellitus due to incomplete service records and unverified stressors. The Veteran will need to provide additional information about his periods of service and PTSD stressors.

The Veteran is granted service connection for hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and macular degeneration. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year after separation from service, and thus could not be granted on a presumptive basis. Direct service connection was also denied as there is no evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and type II diabetes mellitus, but reopened the claim for a low back disability.,For type II diabetes mellitus, the Veteran's assertions regarding exposure to herbicide agents were not supported by evidence. The Board found no direct or presumptive service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type I, finding that the current diagnosis is related to an elevated glucose reading during active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unemployable since December 21, 2011. The Board has granted TDIU for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The VA needs to verify if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange in Thailand based on his claimed living quarters.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that it only requires insulin and restricted diet.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions, including arthritis in various joints and limbs, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, varicose veins, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain STRs and VA examinations regarding his diabetes, left arm/elbow disorder, and hypertension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension may be related to his diabetes mellitus and/or adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and therefore remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, right knee disability, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, fungal infections of the feet, migraine headaches, and a disability manifested by insomnia. The decision states that there is no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during service and thus no presumption applies.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, but granted effective dates for left knee meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease and lumbar spine DDD. The initial rating for lumbar spine DDD was also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional examinations. The issues include diabetic neuropathy, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, chest pain (coronary artery disease), chronic fatigue, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various sized growths on his body.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound, as well as the cause of death claim due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened. The rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss remains at 30 percent, but the case is remanded to determine if a higher rating should be assigned.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for Diabetes Mellitus, Type II is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the lack of schedular requirements for a TDIU rating. The issues of service connection for coronary artery disease and TDIU are inextricably intertwined, so both need to be addressed together.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM II), and blackouts due to insufficient evidence or lack of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.