Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death. The appeals for increased ratings of scars, abdominal wall and left hand, as well as the claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, Hepatitis C, and left shoulder condition are dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection. The Veteran's arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II were both found to be within the applicable rating criteria, with no increase in ratings being granted.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), and tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral hip disability is being remanded for further examination.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran’s claimed conditions as they were not shown to be related to her active duty service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The reduction in the rating for diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension from 60 percent to a 20 percent rating was not proper, and the 60 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 and service connection for various conditions associated with diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to potential herbicide exposure at CFB Gagetown. Additional development is needed to verify if the appellant was exposed to herbicides, not limited to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of records and for further development regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange while serving on ships in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU are REMANDED due to outstanding records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, sun poisoning, diabetes mellitus, type II, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to missing service treatment records. The VA is instructed to obtain these records and conduct further examinations as needed.

The Veteran's appeal involves two issues: (1) reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private orthopedic clinic on June 3, 2013; and (2) prior authorization for non-VA medical services provided to the Veteran on May 16 and 17, 2013. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed in both cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including metastatic bilateral lung cancer and brain tumor with focal motor and focal sensory seizure disorder, have rendered him unable to work. Effective June 5, 2015, his service-connected status-post radical prostatectomy is rated at 100 percent due to renal dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence submitted since the last decision. The claims are now pending before the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart condition, bilateral lung condition (secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II), and bilateral kidney condition (secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder, increased ratings for DM, chronic kidney disease, and CAD were denied. The appeals are based on the Veteran's subjective complaints of increased symptoms but the medical evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for Peyronie’s disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the extremities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and Type II Diabetes Mellitus, as both conditions are claimed to be related to his PTSD. The VA will seek additional information from the Veteran regarding potential in-service exposures and provide an addendum opinion addressing the theories of entitlement.