Diabetes decisions — 2018

Your claims for service connection are being remanded to allow the VA to obtain any outstanding treatment records and then review your cases again.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and restless leg syndrome was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis with sinusitis. A 40 percent disability rating is granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine from March 8, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, including as secondary to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's service in the inland waterways of the Republic of Vietnam is presumed due to his presence there.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus is granted, but the matter is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including DM II, vision loss, sleep apnea, ED, ingrown toenails, third degree burns, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The reasons given include a lack of in-service occurrence or injury related to these conditions, as well as insufficient evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, cataracts, erectile dysfunction, loss of smell and taste, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during service or any other basis for presumptive service connection.

The claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, the case is remanded as further medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is at least as likely as not proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was remanded due to the need for new examinations as his disabilities had worsened since the last VA examination in 2013. The Board found that a thorough and contemporaneous medical examination is necessary.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for hypertension/angina, prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus due to new and material evidence. However, these claims are still being remanded as there is conflicting information on whether the Veteran set boots on the ground in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for otitis media, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus II (due to Agent Orange exposure), right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The claim for reopening of the otitis media claim was granted but service connection is not established.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for Parkinson’s disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure in service is denied.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure in service is denied.,Service connection for hypertension secondary to ischemic heart disease is denied.,Bilateral knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and residuals of spider bite on the right hand are remanded for further examination and opinion.,Service connection for skin condition is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted reopening of the claims for service connection for hypertension, sleep/respiratory disability (sleep apnea), and kidney disease. However, diabetes mellitus and tinnitus were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment in a sedentary capacity. The Board denied the claim for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's disease, finding that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or have exposure to herbicides. The claims were also remanded for a VA examination of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, heart disability (including congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation), diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for COPD, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service connection claim will be reconsidered after obtaining additional information from VA and private treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II. The case is remanded to determine if hypertension should be granted as secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's death was caused by aspiration pneumonia and progressive senile dementia, with other significant conditions including anorexia, malnutrition, anasarca, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. The cause of the Veteran’s death is not related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear notification of potential evidentiary sources for verifying an in-service personal assault, and the need for a VA psychiatric examination to clarify the diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the low back disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and seizure disorder.