Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes, and supraventricular tachycardia with left ventricular hypertrophy as secondary to his service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder. The appeals were remanded for further action on some issues.

The Veteran's PTSD and diabetes mellitus claims are remanded for further investigation. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to the lack of information regarding the USS Enterprise’s operations in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus with chronic kidney disease due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining medical opinions regarding potential environmental toxin exposures.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy, and TDIU due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure at Fort McClellan. The peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II. Additional VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion are needed to clarify this issue.

Service connection for ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity has been granted due to herbicide exposure.,Hypertension and diabetic retinopathy have not yet been evaluated based on their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the award of separate disability ratings for various diabetic neuropathy conditions were denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension were also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as a presumptive condition due to his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted service connection as due to herbicide exposure. The Board found the Veteran credible in his claims of in-service herbicide exposure and concluded that he has a current disability related to his in-service exposure.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type I was denied prior to June 29, 2015. From June 29, 2015 to June 29, 2016, the Veteran received a 60% disability rating due to severe hypoglycemic episodes requiring hospitalization. After this period, the Veteran's diabetes was rated at 40%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and coronary artery disease due to herbicide agent exposure. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension were all denied as there is no in-service event, injury or disease associated with these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart disability, right knee disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and PTSD are pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service at Korat RTAFB in Thailand, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's low back disability is found to have had its onset during his active duty service and has continued since that time.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, abdominal hernia, bilateral cataract status post intraocular lens replacement in left eye, and pancreatitis are remanded due to unclear evidence regarding the Veteran's service in Vietnam and potential exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was submitted in January 2005. The effective date of the award of TDIU was set at December 24, 2008 because it found that the schedular requirements were first satisfied on that date. However, the Veteran argues that the schedular requirements have been met since his initial claim in January 2005.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted service connection. The claim for PTSD remains pending and must be remanded.