Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's prostate cancer and type II diabetes mellitus are granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure during his time at Ramasun Station in Thailand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The claims were reopened due to new and material evidence, but the Board found no current diagnosis of these conditions and insufficient medical evidence linking them to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for TMJ disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, polyneuropathy of the lower extremities, and kidney disorder. The appeal was dismissed due to a March 2019 rating decision granting service connection for TMJ disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus II, PTSD, and TDIU due to a lack of medical opinions addressing whether his service-connected disabilities require regulation of activities as part of medical management of his diabetes, and whether he has occupational and social impairments with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board dismissed the appeals as the Veteran died before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and related complications, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as an electrician.

The Veteran has withdrawn his increased rating claims for coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus type II.,The Veteran has withdrawn his earlier effective date claim for tinnitus. The AOJ will issue a SOC regarding the service connection claims for arthritis.,The Veteran's loss of teeth is remanded due to lack of an adequate VA examination, as well as the need for clarification on carcinogen exposure and further development of the record.,PTSD symptoms are remanded for a new VA examination to determine their current severity and impact on employment.,TDIU claim is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other claims.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, squamous cell carcinoma of the left upper lung, and cellulitis (also diagnosed as necrobiosis lipoidica) on a substitution basis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) with erectile dysfunction (ED) has been denied by the Board.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the dorsal spine is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board finds that there is no evidence to support a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertensive vascular disease have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and preparing retrospective opinions regarding the Veteran's depressive disorder and diabetes.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to obesity related to a lumbar spine disability. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to a lumbar spine disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction has been dismissed. The claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II; left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy prior to October 26, 2012; and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy prior to October 26, 2012 have all been denied. A TDIU has been granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 9, 2007 for the award of a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected heart disability. The decision is based on factual evidence that the Veteran was unable to maintain gainful employment by reason of his service-connected disabilities as of April 9, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus), right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's death prevented the appellant from being substituted as claimant, and thus his appeal for substitution was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died during the pendency of the case.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and increased ratings for PTSD are granted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied.