Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on exposure to flammable liquids during active duty.

The Board denied an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on his symptoms and treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, finding the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for fatigue, diabetes, and headaches. The Veteran's fatigue was attributed to hypogonadism rather than an undiagnosed illness or chronic multi-symptom illness related to Persian Gulf War experiences. His diabetes is not considered a presumptive condition due to his obesity and lack of evidence linking it to service. His headaches are attributed to degenerative joint disease and sinus issues, unrelated to Gulf War exposures.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as presumptively associated with his exposure to herbicide agents during a layover in Saigon while flying home from Bangkok.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and for further development of his Social Security Administration disability records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, are so severe as to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he withdrew his appeals for TDIU, service connection for diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea, and an increased disability rating for GERD if he received a 100% disability rating before the decision.

The Board has remanded the claim of total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as it is inextricably intertwined with the claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury and hypertension. Additional development is needed to obtain relevant private treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is secondary to his service-connected hypertension and if it was aggravated by that condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate rationale in a February 2017 VA examination and medical opinion. The Veteran needs to be provided with new examinations to determine if her CVA residuals, left arm disability, left leg disability, and diabetes mellitus are caused or aggravated by her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not considered the principal or a contributory cause of his death. Therefore, his DIC claim based on the cause of death is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy were denied. Service connection was granted for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes, but denied for left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found the Veteran had been exposed to herbicides while stationed at Udorn RTAFB, which is presumed exposure. Therefore, service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and medical examination to determine the nature, etiology, severity, and service connection of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer and diabetes metillus, type II, as these conditions are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during his military service in Korea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or earlier effective dates.,The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD, hypertension, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss on December 26, 2013, but his claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a stomach disability (formerly claimed as gastritis), to include as due to exposure to contaminated water while stationed at Camp Lejeune, is dismissed. The Board also remanded several other issues including an evaluation for the Veteran's low back disability and severance of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.