Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence supports a causal relationship to active service.

The Board denied service connection for mitral valve prolapse, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus as the conditions were not shown to have been aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as the evidence did not establish in-service exposure to herbicide agents and there was no direct or presumptive service connection.

The appeals for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, PTSD, retained shrapnel fragments within soft tissue of the mid-upper right arm and residuals of right humerus fracture, and shrapnel wounds of the right hip and right upper leg have been dismissed.,An effective date of December 4, 2011, but no earlier, for a 70 percent rating for PTSD has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his diabetes and peripheral neuropathy due to service-connected diabetes. The diabetes is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, while the peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities is each rated at 10 percent, and the peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II has worsened and he should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination.,The Veteran’s hypertension preexisted service and the Board finds that an additional VA examination is warranted to determine if there was an increase in severity during his service, and if yes, whether the increase in severity was clearly and unmistakably not due to the natural progress of the disorder.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of his bilateral lower extremities are less likely as not related to his diabetes mellitus type II. An additional VA examination is warranted to determine the etiology of the Veteran’s peripheral neuropathy of his bilateral lower extremities.,At the April 2017 Travel Board hearing, the Veteran testified that he was unable to work due to his service-connected disabilities, including his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The claim for TDIU is remanded and will be inextricably intertwined with the claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for vertigo and tinnitus are remanded as new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, ischemic heart disease, right eye enucleation, and other conditions, are found to preclude substantially gainful employment prior to March 2, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, heart disorder, left leg tumor (prostate cancer), vision disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and sleep apnea were not incurred or aggravated during service. The Board found no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and military service.,There is insufficient evidence to presume exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam or Korea.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including tinea cruris, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disability, and a cognitive disability. The issues have been returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left foot amputation and service connection for end-stage renal disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression). The decision found that the Veteran's refusal to receive treatment was a significant factor in his condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, is granted. The reopened claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 were not met.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further development regarding service connection for the cause of death, including potential links to PTSD and diabetes.

The Veteran's right knee disability is denied as there is no nexus between the current condition and his active military service.,Service connection for heart arrhythmia is denied due to lack of functional impairment of earning capacity.,Diabetes mellitus type II is not granted as there is no evidence of a diagnosed disability, only hyperglycemia and prediabetes.,Cerebral and cerebrallar atrophy is not granted as the Veteran's current condition does not have a nexus to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left knee disability, have been denied. The rating for diabetes mellitus remains unchanged.

The Board has denied service connection for cold injuries and depression. The claims of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet, generalized primary osteoarthritis, knee replacement resulting from bone cancer, hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes, and migraine headaches are remanded due to missing service treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for liver condition, diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, skin cancer, and thyroid problems due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided that the claims of service connection for CAD, ulcer condition in the small intestine, macular degeneration, seborrheic keratosis, and diabetes mellitus need to be remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection claims for various disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim and an earlier effective date claim for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease. The appellant is required to provide updated VA treatment records and identify any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of August 10, 2009. The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2009 for the grant of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).