Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals regarding type 2 diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, and involuntary muscle movement have all been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for all issues related to tinnitus, hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type 2, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, PTSD, and IHD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's cause of death, renal failure, was a manifestation of his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death for purposes of entitlement to DIC benefits due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was aggravated by his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, resulting in a grant of service connection.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied as there is no evidence linking it to active duty service.,Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is not service connected due to lack of evidence showing its onset during service or being caused by a service-connected disability. Service connection was granted based on aggravation by his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.,The cause of death, hepatocellular carcinoma resulting from hepatitis C, is recognized as service-connected.,An increased rating greater than 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted due to its severity and impact on employment.,TDIU is granted based on the Veteran's inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed all issues related to increased ratings for various peripheral neuropathies and hypertension, as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's death prevented a TDIU for accrued benefits purposes as his unemployment was due to non-service-connected conditions, not his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to diabetes), and an effective date of September 30, 2015 for his 20% rating for diabetes. The decision also denied temporary total evaluations based on surgical treatment necessitating convalescence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The low back disability, diabetes mellitus with macular edema and diabetic retinopathy (right eye), right leg radiculitis, right knee arthritis, residuals of a left index finger fracture, hemorrhoids, and prostate cancer residuals are all rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer was withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for DM were denied prior to November 17, 2010 and from June 12, 2018. A rating of 40 percent for DM was granted from April 8, 2016 to June 11, 2018.,The Veteran's appeals for ratings of PN were granted at 40 percent for both lower extremities.,The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU was dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's left upper extremity neuropathy was not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's right upper extremity neuropathy was not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's left lower extremity neuropathy was not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's right lower extremity neuropathy was not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied this claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as he did not file a timely substantive appeal for his service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his military service. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes mellitus type 2 are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused his obesity and, in turn, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The VA must obtain updated treatment records and provide an opinion on these issues.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the issue for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The renal dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus was rated at 60 percent, the diabetes mellitus at 20 percent, and the insomnia (now claimed as depression) at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for increased ratings for gouty arthritis of the right great toe and left ankle and initial compensable disability evaluation for kidney stones are remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicides during his military service in South Korea.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred during active duty service or within one year post-service. The Board denied service connection as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence.