Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, skin condition of the bilateral feet, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, and diabetes due to potential service connection issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The claim of service connection for diabetes is reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. The case is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure during service. The issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the diabetes claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding hearing loss. Service connection for congestive heart failure and diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of March 28, 2015 for service connection of diabetes mellitus type II due to the liberalizing law that added diabetes to the list of presumptive diseases on May 8, 2001.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular accident due to insufficient evidence of record. Additional development is required to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents or other chemicals during his service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and requesting an advisory opinion from a medical expert. The Veteran's death was not service-connected as his cause of death is esophageal carcinoma.

The Veteran's cause of death, urothelial cell bladder carcinoma, is not service-connected as it was not present during or within one year after his military service. The Board found no evidence linking the cancer to herbicide exposure in Vietnam and concluded that diabetes did not contribute to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has caused or aggravated his sleep apnea, headaches, and high cholesterol. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was congestive heart failure, but the Board found no service connection for these conditions and denied the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was restored to 30% effective October 1, 2017. The claim for TDIU due to service-connected PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to septic shock, end-stage renal disease, and diabetes mellitus. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure basis (such as Agent Orange). Service connection for the cause of death was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, both presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, are granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining work.

Service connection for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DMII) and its associated peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities has been granted.,Service connection for Dermatitis of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The SMC based on aid and attendance prior to November 29, 2017 is also being remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents and the Veteran's lay assertions. Service connection for PTSD is remanded as there are insufficient records to verify the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure during Vietnam service.,Service connection for osteomyelitis is denied, with no current diagnosis found.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be related to her service.