Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death. A medical opinion is needed to determine if these conditions caused or contributed to his cause of death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and melanoma are all granted as service connected. The decision also remands the issue of service connection for melanoma due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, as well as higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, persistent depressive disorder, and restless leg syndrome. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension, skin disorder, diabetes mellitus, and prostate cancer due to insufficient medical evidence on file.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the listed conditions prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the claims for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to exposure to herbicide agents. Additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's allegations of exposure in service and to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, secondary to herbicide exposure and residuals of a left kidney disorder, secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claim for an increased rating for hearing loss was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for service-connected diabetes and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are being remanded due to additional evidence not having been considered.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, finding that the evidence supports this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right eye condition, sleep disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, colon polyp, prostate condition, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus has been reopened. Service connection is granted for the right eye condition due to new evidence linking it to military service. The other claims remain denied.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Nephropathy were granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents, effective January 8, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or necessary adaptive equipment due to lack of loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, or hips.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and erectile dysfunction. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 25, 2014 for a 100% total disability rating on multiple service-connected conditions was denied as none of the conditions increased in severity within one year prior to his claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to alleged exposure to chemicals in service. The VA is required to provide an examination if there is evidence that a disability may be associated with active service.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from December 19, 2013, to May 14, 2014, due to service-connected PTSD and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. Prior to this period, he did not meet the criteria for TDIU as his combined disability rating was insufficient.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding medical records from VA or private providers and update their treatment records.