Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease (CAD). The Board found that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric and orthopedic disabilities. Obesity was also considered an intermediate step in this causal chain.

The Board has ordered additional development for claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure. The hearing loss claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was granted. A rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted effective March 20, 2012. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted effective May 1, 2014.,The decision does not specify the exact date when the service connection for diabetes was established.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to verify his exposure to toxic materials during service and to determine the relationship between his diabetes mellitus, thyroid condition, and any other conditions he claims are related to service.

The Veteran's combined schedular disability ratings stemming from diabetes met the criteria for TDIU as of April 13, 2009. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU based on reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an extraschedular rating and TDIU due to conflicting opinions regarding his PTSD symptoms and their impact on his ability to work. The VA is required to obtain updated medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's initial rating for diabetic nephropathy was denied as the condition has not met the criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension and erectile dysfunction was denied because management of the diabetes did not require regulation of activities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of thyroid cancer or a thyroid condition was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeal for increased ratings on various foot disabilities, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and sebaceous cysts were all denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for low back disorder, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the femoral nerve in the left lower extremity has been granted with an effective date of May 12, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed herbicide agent exposure during his service in Korea. The Veteran needs to clarify when he saw herbicide agents being sprayed and VA will request verification from the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC).

The Veteran's daughter seeks an earlier effective date for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board denied this request as there is no evidence of a prior claim filed by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and denied a separate compensable rating for cataracts associated with diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the claim for DIC benefits was received after one year of his death. Therefore, the effective date is set to the first day of the month following the death.

The appeal for service connection for loss of vision is dismissed.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a back condition involving the lumbar or cervical spine is remanded.,The rating for bilateral hearing loss disability, sinusitis, and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection for colon cancer and diabetes mellitus, including considering exposure to microwave radiation during service.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for tinnitus but the other conditions remain pending as they are being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The claims were not granted as the evidence did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were denied in the past, but new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board is granting these claims as secondary to other service-connected disabilities.