Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and a psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records from the Veteran's Reserve service.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, which include bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death is remanded due to incomplete information regarding his service connection and exposure history. The VA will need to verify if he was exposed to herbicides during his service in Korea, obtain all relevant medical records, and provide a comprehensive examination to determine the cause of death.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for throat cancer and diabetes mellitus, both related to herbicide exposure. The claims are now remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral recurrent tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his military service. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus due to lack of in-service exposure or evidence of a compensable level within one year post-service. The claim for bilateral knee disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to the lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is also being remanded for further examination.

The Board denied a compensable rating for proliferative diabetic retinopathy as the Veteran does not have any visual impairment caused by his service-connected condition, and the evidence supports that the visual impairment is due to vascular occlusions rather than diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic anal cancer, which the VA examiner stated was likely due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board found that the evidence is evenly balanced as to whether the diabetes contributed substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete development of records, including obtaining VA treatment records from December 2000 to January 2003.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back condition, right ankle condition, sleep apnea condition, and headache condition have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for sleep apnea and headaches. The Veteran’s hypertension and diabetes mellitus Type II are denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left knee OSD and arthritis, DM (diabetes mellitus), sleep apnea, high blood pressure/HTN, left hand contusion residuals, frostbite of the right foot, frostbite of the left foot, neuropathy of the feet, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and chronic headaches. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.,The decision also noted that some conditions may be related to pre-existing conditions or other factors.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records related to his service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and a lumbar spine disorder, as they are related to herbicide agent exposure. The RO is instructed to verify the Veteran’s alleged exposure to herbicides in Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, or at Fort Sherman, Panama.

The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus type 2 prior to July 16, 2010 is denied. From July 16, 2010, the Veteran's service-connected DM type 2 warrants a 40 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder. The earlier effective date claim for diabetes is dismissed due to lack of disagreement with the July 2011 rating decision. The increased disability ratings and TDIU claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, restless leg syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea due to their being related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

Service connection is granted for ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure. Service connection for cause of death (diabetes mellitus, type II) was previously granted in a February 2007 rating decision and remains unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his PTSD, have made it impossible for him to secure and maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and amputated toes were denied service connection due to lack of in-service event or condition, and the presumption of herbicide exposure was not applicable.