Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for a right shoulder disability, hypertension, asthma, major depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, kidney and heart disabilities (secondary to hypertension), headaches, vertigo, and temporary total rating are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence or examinations.,The Veteran’s hypertension is being remanded as there is insufficient information regarding its onset and whether it is related to service-connected conditions. The examiner must also determine if her hypertension is aggravated by her service-connected right shoulder disability.,The Veteran's asthma is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion on whether she had breathing problems during service that could have led to her current condition.,The Veteran’s major depressive disorder is being remanded as there is insufficient information regarding its onset and whether it is related to service-connected conditions. The examiner must also determine if her depression is aggravated by her service-connected right shoulder disability.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion on whether she had sugar in her urine during service or if her condition is aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran’s kidney and heart disabilities (secondary to hypertension) are being remanded as there is insufficient information regarding their onset and relationship to her hypertension.,The Veteran's headaches and vertigo are being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion on whether they are related to her cervical spine disability. The examiner must also determine if her conditions are aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran’s temporary total rating is being remanded as there is insufficient information regarding her need for convalescence following surgery.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, numbness of the left arm and hand (carpal tunnel syndrome), numbness of the right arm and hand, condition of the left knee, condition of the right knee, back pain, and acid reflux. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure. The decision is pending further development regarding whether the U.S.S. Duncan was within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of regulation of activities required to manage the condition.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, right wrist ganglion cyst, and left wrist ganglion cyst as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Veteran's claims are remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his back disability.

The claim of service connection for diabetic eye problems (now claimed as vision loss) remains denied because no new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran's new theory of entitlement does not constitute new and material evidence sufficient to reopen his claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes, groin injury residuals, dizziness, and skin disorder due to incomplete STRs and lack of etiological opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee and a VA medical opinion to determine if he was unemployable prior to July 24, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not caused by service-connected conditions, and remands for further development to determine if the Veteran had exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service aboard the USS Towers in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back pain and initial rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome prior to June 26, 2017 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is reopened.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, atrial fibrillation, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and diabetes mellitus, Type II. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes due to herbicide agent exposure is granted, as well as his claims for secondary service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities. The effective date of these decisions is not specified.

The Veteran's DM with ED, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies are all rated at 20 percent. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions but the Board finds that a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, prostate cancer residuals, and Type II diabetes mellitus, are found to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's former wife, the appellant, is not a proper claimant for compensation for disabilities caused by exposure to herbicide agents. The criteria for such benefits have not been met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, skin disability, heart disability, and PTSD due to insufficient information regarding his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran was asked to provide more details about his alleged exposure but did not respond.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II, finding no direct or secondary relationship to service. The Veteran's tinnitus and sleep apnea were also denied as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for the cause of death and entitlement to service-connected burial benefits due to a need for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA physician regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's death was due to the failure of his VA caregivers in managing his renal transplant, leading to a failure to diagnose and treat his worsening kidney condition. The Board found that this constituted a failure by the VA caregivers to exercise the degree of care expected from a reasonable health care provider.