Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the AOJ not considering his PTSD when evaluating his disability rating. The issue of whether he can secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities alone remains on appeal.

Service connection is granted for right shoulder disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability.,Service connection is granted for sleep apnea. The Board finds the evidence at least in equipoise as to whether it was caused by service.,Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's representative provided a private opinion stating that his current condition may or may not be related to service, which is considered speculative and thus remanded for further examination.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeal for ratings in excess of 70 percent for generalized anxiety disorder with trichotillomania and in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, leading the Board to dismiss these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent disabling. The Board denied a higher disability rating as the evidence does not support the assignment of an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea secondary to panic disorder with agoraphobia and hypertension, was granted. The appeals for the remaining issues were either denied or remanded.

Service connection for vision loss, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, lung cancer, colon cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the left forearm, and squamous cell carcinoma of the left helix is denied.,The Veteran's STRs are silent for complaints, findings, treatment, or diagnosis of any of these conditions. Postservice records do not provide a nexus between service and any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as of March 28, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type I began during his active service in 1986, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's condition was not of such a nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention to be hazardous to life or health. Therefore, the unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Fawcett Memorial Hospital on April 23, 2017, are denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in service and is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy, femoral nerve, right lower extremity was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy, femoral nerve, left lower extremity was denied.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide agent exposure is granted. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the Veteran's chronic kidney disease as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right thumb disorder and diabetes mellitus type II. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations.,Service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension is also being remanded due to incomplete record development.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia. The issues of service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, as well as TDIU, are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is granted. The Veteran's service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and multiple myeloma were denied as there was no evidence of in-service herbicide agent exposure, and the diseases were not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his cause of death due to diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of in-service exposure or service-connected condition. The presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and an acquired psychiatric disability as the evidence did not support a direct relationship to active service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and diabetic foot ulcer. The claims for increased ratings are being returned for further evaluation, and a TDIU claim is also being remanded.