Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including jungle rot, gout, sleep apnea, hypertension, cholecystectomy residuals, ulcerative colitis, end stage renal disease, dermatitis, diabetes mellitus type II, and depressive disorder. The Board found insufficient evidence to establish current diagnoses or a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Board is requesting records from the 7th Radio Research Field Station to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service, which could potentially grant service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied. An initial disability rating of 40 percent for fibromyalgia is granted, effective November 29, 2007. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective January 9, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer and diabetes do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide exposure is granted, along with secondary service connection for bilateral cataracts and bilateral peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities. Service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy in the upper extremities is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure is granted. The effective date of the grant is August 13, 2018. The claims for earlier effective dates for end stage renal disease, left wrist disability, and left knee injury with limitation of extension are also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's heart surgeries and his current cardiac disability. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for diabetes mellitus as there is no probative medical evidence that indicates it was incurred in service or diagnosed within the presumptive period after discharge.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as presumptively related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and denied claims for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, below the left knee amputation, below the right knee amputation, renal failure, and heart disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including nephrolithiasis, squamous cell cancer of the left ear, neck, and face, diabetes mellitus type II, an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and MDD), bilateral hearing loss, and individual unemployability. The remand requires additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II is granted. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. However, the claims for obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes with erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection and rating for various conditions, as well as a hearing loss evaluation. The effective date for tinnitus remains November 3, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's psychiatric disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service or psychiatric medications.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for SMC (o) and need for regular aid and attendance was granted. The Veteran has been in receipt of the correct payment for his combined disability rating since August 2005.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide any evidence linking his hypertension to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded due to lack of recent medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder, bilateral retinopathy, and PTSD have been denied. The claim for sleep apnea has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.