Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety is granted a rating of 50 percent, effective January 15, 2010. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, Type 2 with erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to allow for further evaluation of these conditions due to the Veteran's contentions regarding the adequacy of the VA examinations and his complaints of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's hypertension was noted on his entrance examination and did not increase in severity during service. The Board finds the medical opinion of record to be more probative than the Veteran’s lay assertions regarding the etiology and severity of his hypertension.,An addendum opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing skin condition existed prior to service, was aggravated by service, or is related to in-service symptomatology.

Service connection for unspecified arthritis and tinnitus is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to PTSD, is granted. Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure is denied.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that there was no evidence showing that any service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death. The Veteran's cause of death was listed as massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to esophageal and gastric varices, and hepatitic C cirrhosis with portal hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents, the conditions did not manifest within one year after separation from service, and there is insufficient medical nexus evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of broken index finger right hand, left eye disability, diabetes mellitus, and residuals of a broken jaw due to incomplete medical records and lack of nexus opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now considered on their merits. The Board has found new and material evidence to support the reopening of these claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism (claimed as thyroid problems), ischemic heart disease and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and diabetes, as well as peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, are granted. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of dislocation of the fourth carpal-metacarpal bone with right wrist and forearm involvement is dismissed. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he was in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling at the time of his death. However, the Veteran did not have a total rating due to a service-connected disability prior to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, prostate cancer residuals, hypertension, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment. His TDIU claim was granted effective from February 1, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for eye disability, cardiovascular disability (including CABG residuals), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development including examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, depression, and hypertension are granted. Claims for right leg disability (claimed as a right shin injury), hernia of the upper torso, kidney disease, cyst of the left armpit, and diabetes mellitus remain denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it did not manifest during service and was not related to her service-connected conditions. The evidence showed no signs of diabetes in service or within one year after separation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for lymphedema and Type 2 diabetes mellitus was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, both conditions were denied as there is no credible evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action regarding exposure to herbicides and service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of Parkinson's disease and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient information on the current level of disability caused by his service-connected conditions. He needs updated VA examinations for his heart, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy.