Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was manageable by restricted diet only during the period on appeal, and therefore does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it is not a disability for which VA benefits can be granted.,The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus type II remains at 10 percent and no higher. The evidence does not support an increased rating.,The reduction in the rating for CAD, status post CABG from 60% to 30% is remanded as there was no effective date provided.,The issues of whether the effective date of the reduction in rating for CAD, status post CABG should be addressed along with the issue of whether the reduction itself was proper. These are also remanded.,The Veteran's respiratory disorder remains unestablished and not related to service or herbicide exposure.,Hypertension is presumed due to service but its etiology cannot be determined from the evidence provided.,Service connection for tremors, left arm disorder, right arm disorder, reflex conditions of extremities, back disorder, sleep apnea, skin cancer, and headaches are all remanded as their relationship to service or herbicide exposure needs further clarification.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's stroke is related to his service-connected diabetes and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is related to his presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam, and thus he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right eye disability, left eye disability (other than dry eye), and cerebral vascular accident are denied. The claim for service connection for dry eye syndrome is granted. The CVA and associated visual field defect claims are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IHD, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and scar, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU based on the evidence showing his unemployability due to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes) is dismissed. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that a new VA examination and updated private treatment records are needed to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, both presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure while stationed in Thailand. Service connection was denied for skin cancer as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD and coronary artery disease, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus type II are granted as service connected, with the latter being presumed due to herbicide exposure during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to in-service herbicide exposure. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran’s claimed herbicide exposure while stationed in Korea and obtain all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, sleep apnea, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and neuropathy have been granted. The appeals for service connection for these conditions are all secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, headaches, and deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities are not service-connected.,Service connection for a sleeping disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and its complications are rated at 20 percent, with a TDIU granted from October 18, 2013.,Diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% from May 13, 2010 to August 1, 2018 and at 70% since then. The Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU during the period prior to August 1, 2018.