Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and type II diabetes mellitus have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or causation to service.,There is no medical evidence linking any of these conditions to service, including presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is being remanded.,The Veteran's TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities, including his diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction and bilateral cataracts is denied. The claim for an initial rating higher than 80 percent for diabetic renal disease (microalbumin) is also denied. The claims for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status are denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, sleep apnea, skin disorder (seborrheic dermatitis), and type II diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a link between the conditions and service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of a current disability for any of these conditions under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his employment history and a new examination of his bilateral lower extremity disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and secondary amputation of the right leg below the knee, as new evidence was submitted. The Veteran's diabetes is being reviewed again with additional medical records and an addendum opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for Parkinson’s disease and remanded the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for right and left knee disabilities, service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, service connection for right and left upper extremity neurological disabilities, and service connection for a vestibular disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have started during or shortly after his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there was no in-service injury or disease, and the evidence does not establish exposure to herbicide agents. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding a link between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from maintaining substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent evaluation of diabetes mellitus type II with bilateral cortical cataracts and nuclear sclerosis and erectile dysfunction was denied. The Board found that there was no ascertainable increase in the disability within one year prior to July 1, 2015, when the Veteran filed his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied because there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. The Veteran's hypertension, which has required medication since at least August 2014, warrants a non-compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, skin condition, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and depression. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is unclear, and further development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, contact dermatitis of the low back, and osteopenia. The Board has determined that further examination is needed for the osteopenia issue due to its potential connection to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current diagnosis of diabetes was caused by or related to his active duty service.

The petition to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions is granted. The cases are remanded for further development and examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for aid and attendance or housebound benefits as her surviving spouse, finding that she is not in need of regular aid and assistance from another person due to her medical conditions.