Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease, have rendered him unemployable due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development and examination: back disability, bilateral foot disability, diabetes, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran asserts that his disabilities are related to service, particularly exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, separate compensable rating service for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The reduction from a 10 percent rating to zero percent for urinary frequency associated with diabetes mellitus was improper, and the Veteran's rating has been restored to 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus was withdrawn. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. Service connection is denied for hypertension and both lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, cancer of the kidneys, and heart condition due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing in-service onset or a link between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes was found to be a contributory cause of his death from acute leukemia.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination assessing his need for regular aid and attendance as a result of service-connected disabilities. The AOJ must also obtain any outstanding private treatment records and ensure they are associated with the claims file.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for voiding dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether BPH was aggravated by diabetes.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II with diabetic retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The case is remanded to obtain inpatient treatment records from Naval Hospital Orlando during the Veteran's active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic nephropathy with hypertension was rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that this rating did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating during the relevant period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disability for compensation purposes is denied as there is no indication of actual bone loss or other maxillary impairment.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than anxiety disorder, to include PTSD, is also denied due to the lack of current diagnosis and credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder remains remanded as there is no clear indication of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicides and pesticides during service. The Veteran is requested to provide authorization for VA to obtain any outstanding records, including private treatment records. A VA medical examination will be conducted to determine if the Veteran’s current disabilities are related to his in-service exposure.

The Board granted DIC benefits for the cause of the Veteran’s death effective from July 1, 2014. The Appellant's claim to reopen her previous denied claim was received on June 16, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes is denied, and the effective date for this service connection is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 4, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and a dental disability (claimed as mouth injury). Service connection was granted for diabetes, with the eye condition being considered secondary to diabetes.,Service connection was established for diabetes based on evidence showing exposure to diesel engine exhaust and obesity during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, neck disability, and back disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran asserts that her pre-existing diabetes worsened during deployment, and she experienced neck and back pain related to carrying heavy gear in Afghanistan.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death, finding that no service-connected disability was either the principal or a contributory cause of the Veteran’s death. The evidence did not support presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.