Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The claims for colon adenocarcinoma and kidney cancer, both presumed due to herbicide agent exposure, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is being remanded due to increased severity of his service-connected disabilities, including diabetic neuropathy. A new VA examination is needed to assess his need for aid and assistance.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of second degree burns on the left arm is granted. The claims for diabetes mellitus, nerve damage to the left hand and left arm, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 began during active service. The case is being sent back for a new VA opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, right foot pes planus, and left foot pes planus. The Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine were not related to his active service.,Right and left foot pes planus preexisted service and did not increase in severity during service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are granted service connection. The increased rating claims for PTSD, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right ear hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to his service-connected other specified anxiety disorder. The issues are currently before the Board.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and sleep apnea due to lack of exposure to herbicides during active duty. The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and he is granted service connection.,There is no evidence of left foot fungus beginning during active service or being related to an in-service injury. The claim for this condition is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and diabetes mellitus, type II due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure during active duty in Okinawa, Japan.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is dismissed due to the death of the claimant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to presumed herbicide agent exposure is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is also granted.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than March 10, 2015 for the grant of service connection for circadian rhythm sleep wake disorder with delayed sleep phase (CRSWD) is not warranted. The Veteran's initial claim was received on March 10, 2015 and he did not demonstrate entitlement to an earlier effective date based on a reopened claim or CUE. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and circadian rhythm sleep wake disorder with delayed sleep phase (CRSWD) due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus render him unable to obtain or sustain substantial gainful employment, and the Board has resolved reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection and increased ratings for bronchitis, pneumonia, malaria disability, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus. The VA will obtain private medical records from prior to 2009 and conduct new examinations to determine the severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as a total disability rating due to individual unemployability, are being remanded for further development.