Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed related to his active duty service and granted.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity have been rated as 10 percent disabling prior to July 16, 2014, and as 20 percent thereafter. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy and cataracts, due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as well as to attempt verification of herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for scars and diabetes mellitus are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded.,His PTSD has been rated at 50% since October 19, 2010.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, are presumed to be due to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Korea.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for prostate cancer and increased disability ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities before a decision was made.

The Veteran's right eye impairment, including cataract and diabetic retinopathy, is rated at 30 percent from November 23, 2015. The rating was granted as the condition improved after a cataract surgery in January 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied. Separate ratings were granted for upper extremity conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are at least in equipoise as to whether they result in loss of use of both feet and require aid and attendance due to PTSD alone, thus meeting the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (o) and (r)(1).

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are being remanded for further evaluation as his conditions have worsened.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus type II, prior to March 1, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and abdominal aortic aneurysm. The decision is based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Thailand.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed disabilities, including multiple myeloma and diabetes mellitus type II, are not related to an undiagnosed illness or a Gulf War syndrome. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions have known etiologies unrelated to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was granted with an effective date of August 27, 2008. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity was denied as there were no diagnoses prior to December 2, 2016.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for service connection and rating issues related to the Veteran's disabilities. The appeals are being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for PTSD, hypertension, and heart condition are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, ear disability, glaucoma, respiratory disorder, hypertension, upper intestinal disorder (GERD), erectile dysfunction, left great toenail paronychia, gout, right foot disability, skin disability, LUE neuropathy with pain, RUE neuropathy with pain, LLE neuropathy with pain, and RLE neuropathy with pain due to outstanding evidence that may be relevant to the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diabetic retinopathy is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.