Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's initial rating for Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DMII) and PTSD have been denied. The DMII is rated at 20 percent, while the PTSD remains at 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, eye disability, skin disability (pseudofolliculitis barbae), sleep apnea, hypercholesterolemia, heart disability, COPD, lung disability other than COPD, diabetes mellitus, type II, hernia, low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus with nephropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for a new examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD and diabetes mellitus is granted. The claims for initial compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, cataracts, and bilateral hearing loss are denied. The claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus remains denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for rhinitis and cataracts remain denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as he does not require regulation of activities or episodes of ketoacidosis/hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder, back disorder, hypertension, upper extremity neuropathy, and lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not rated higher than 20 percent prior to July 1, 2010 and has not met the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent as of that date.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his active service in Thailand and therefore meets the presumptive criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and entitlement to special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance, finding that there was no direct evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for PTSD and diabetes, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetic retinopathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction has been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral cataracts have been dismissed as the evidence does not support a finding of service connection on any basis.,Service connection has been granted for unspecified depressive disorder secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The appeal for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.,Ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted effective May 9, 2016. The RO also granted SMC and DEA benefits at that time.,Prior to this decision, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for earlier effective dates as his service-connected disabilities did not warrant such an award.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective from May 25, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis B and diabetes mellitus type II due to a lack of representation by his current representative, Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GADVS).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 9, 2005.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic foot ulcer, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology, particularly in relation to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected diabetes and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for new examinations.