Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with diabetic nephropathy and microalbuminuria is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board denied an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision may be rendered regarding the issues on appeal, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA records. The Veteran's arthritis, left wrist disability (left wrist disability), carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, eye disability, diabetes mellitus, residuals of stroke, heart disability, headache disability, and subdural hematoma are all being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities due to insufficient attempts to verify the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic kidney disorder, COPD, and diabetes have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during his active service or within one year post-service. The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus was not exposed to herbicides. His current conditions are considered to be unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and diabetes mellitus have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after her military service, and they are not related to any service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, low back disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities (left and right) have been remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding functional loss during flare-ups or with repeated use over time.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and an eye disability, but has remanded them due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board is requesting more specific deck logs to determine if the Veteran went ashore in Vietnam on or around August 5, 1972. This will help decide whether he can get presumptive service connection for his diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, eye condition, chronic liver disease, neurological conditions (including encephalopathy), Bell's palsy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA medical opinion is requested to determine if these conditions are etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.

The Board has decided that the remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and provide a proper opinion regarding whether hypertension is related to service, including considering herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes, type II due to new evidence obtained after the previous denial.

The Veteran's DM is currently rated at 10 percent, effective November 20, 2014. The Board finds no evidence of the need for insulin or regulation of activities due to DM. Service connection has been granted for hiatal hernia and residuals of a fractured right hip (including URHR) associated with stroke secondary to service-connected DM. These issues are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, respiratory disorder, hypertension, circulatory disorder, skin cancer of the left arm with residual scar, and diabetes mellitus, type II are all denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a current diagnosis or relationship between these conditions and military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, skin cancer of the left arm, and diabetes mellitus, type II were also denied as they did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, and a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depression, insomnia, anxiety, nightmares) as the evidence did not show an in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several conditions and issues, including increased ratings for TBI and migraine headaches, service connection for sleep apnea, PTSD, a left knee condition, hearing loss, cataracts, diabetes (secondary to service-connected disability), an increased rating for other specified depressive disorder, and entitlement to individual unemployability prior to February 8, 2012. The appeals are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence linking the condition to service, and the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicides or other potential causes.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy lower extremities due to incomplete investigation into potential Agent Orange exposure during the Veteran's time in Korea.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded due to the need for a VA opinion on whether his liver cancer was caused by Agent Orange exposure, and consideration of the relationship between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and liver cancer.