Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has found the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic fatigue of pelvic floor, to include as secondary to service-connected fibromyalgia are not resolved due to a need for additional development.

The Veteran's adult daughter is granted additional accrued benefits for six weeks of caregiver expenses related to the Veteran's last sickness, but Life Alert services are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims due to additional evidence being added to the record and requires AOJ review.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims of entitlement to service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, a left shoulder condition, and a right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tear remain not reopened. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, type 2, including as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, and bilateral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied as there was no in-service exposure to herbicide agents and the disease did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted with an effective date of August 24, 2012. The earlier effective date claim was denied as the earliest date on which the Veteran met the schedular criteria for entitlement to a TDIU was June 7, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, which is claimed as secondary to his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims of service connection for various conditions were denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for generalized anxiety disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these issues prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating authorized for tinnitus under Diagnostic Code 6260. The Veteran's PTSD and diabetes mellitus are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus due to incomplete records and insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to provide any additional evidence in support of his claims, and VA will make reasonable efforts to obtain all relevant records.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy with macular edema is rated at a 30 percent effective July 10, 2013. The rating was denied for higher ratings prior to November 29, 2017 and after that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, DM, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder were denied. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer residuals were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's timely Notice of Disagreement with the July 2015 rating decision has been accepted. The issues of service connection for chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and diabetes have been remanded due to new evidence.

The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the type of diabetes and its relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, IHD, DM, PN of the bilateral upper extremities, and PN of the bilateral lower extremities. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence for hypertension. Service connection was also denied on a direct basis for IHD and DM as there is no evidence showing they are related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that the Veteran did not qualify under any form of regulatory presumption and there was no proof of actual direct exposure.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension are granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment is denied as he does not meet the eligibility requirements under VA regulations.