Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II. The issues of initial compensable ratings for hypertension and depressive disorder not otherwise specified are remanded.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease has been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.,The Veteran's claims were reopened based on new evidence that relates to previously unestablished elements of the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, chest scar from coronary artery bypass graft, diabetes mellitus, type II, end-stage renal failure, hypertension, and neuropathy have all been denied.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran’s chest scar as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

Obstructive sleep apnea has been granted as service connected.,type 2 diabetes mellitus and psoriasis of the elbows and hands have both been reopened and granted as service connected.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that management of his diabetes required regulation of activities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted, effective September 5, 2013. The awards of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II are denied as not meeting the criteria for earlier effective dates.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot numbness, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disabilities, prostate disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, osteopenia, cervical spine disability, neurological impairment of the upper extremities, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded as his prostatitis may be related to his current prostate disability. Additional development is needed regarding whether he has any residual disability from the prostatitis shown in service.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, chronic gastritis with GERD, and hemorrhoids are being remanded as his most recent examinations in August 2017 were inadequate. Additional development is needed to determine the current functional impairment resulting from these disabilities.,

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the last decision.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea syndrome but has remanded the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to hypertension.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sleep apnea and remanded it for further development. The diabetes claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure/hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were not shown to be related to service or due to exposure to herbicides. The Board denied these claims as the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.,The Veteran's deviated nasal septum was evaluated under Diagnostic Code 6502, but no compensable rating could be assigned because there was no evidence of at least 50 percent obstruction in his nasal passages or complete obstruction on one side.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, but has remanded the issue of erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, and lower extremity neuropathy due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that his current conditions are related to service or secondary to any other condition.

The Veteran's skin disability diagnosed as diabetic dermopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The claims for increased hearing loss and glaucoma are remanded, and the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen claims for service connection for IHD and Type 2 diabetes mellitus are granted. The Board finds new and material evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, including evidence related to exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The claim for diabetes mellitus type II has been reopened and granted.,The claim for coronary artery disease has been reopened and granted.,The claim for hemorrhage from brain vessels (stroke) has been reopened and denied.,The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and denied.,The claim for erectile dysfunction has been reopened and denied.,The claim for bilateral arthritis of the feet has been reopened and denied.,The claim for bilateral arthritis of the hands has been reopened and denied.