Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his pre-existing condition clearly and unmistakably did not predate service or was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's son, D.W.M., was denied recognition as a helpless child due to the evidence showing he had significant physical limitations but also functional abilities that allowed him to support himself.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering his current service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the earlier effective date claims for all service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathies, and chronic ischemic heart disease. The appeal is related to the timing of when these conditions were granted as service connected.

The Veteran's service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the extremities is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and Parkinson’s Disease due to a lack of an examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has found the preponderance of evidence against a finding that the Veteran has a current heart disability, bilateral hearing loss, or diabetic edema. The claims for these conditions are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is directly related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2. The examiner must provide an opinion on both causation and aggravation of the nonservice-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, but the case of diabetes mellitus, type II, due to exposure to herbicide agents is remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40% from October 5, 2015. The right shoulder degenerative joint disease was previously rated at 40%, but reduced to 20% effective May 16, 2016. The left shoulder degenerative joint disease has a rating of 20%. All other issues are denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the issuance of an incomplete Statement of the Case (SOC). The issues include PTSD, PN of the bilateral lower extremities involving both the sciatic and femoral nerves, DM, urinary incontinence, and TDIU.

The Veteran's body lesions and cysts are at least as likely as not related to her service-connected eczema.,Service connection is granted for diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and body lesions and cysts.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy and diabetes mellitus type II have been rated based on their respective service-connected conditions, but the Veteran seeks higher ratings. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted for these conditions.,For PTSD, the Veteran seeks an increased disability rating, but the Board determined that there was insufficient evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, finding that there was equipoise of evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and granting the benefit of the doubt in his favor.

The Board has not found substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, including due to herbicide agent exposure. Therefore, another remand is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 6, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship with his military service or any other condition.

The Board has granted service connection for cataracts as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and CAD have been granted service connection as due to herbicide exposure. The claims for gout, acquired psychiatric disability (including bipolar disorder), pulmonary condition, residuals of breast cancer, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus are related to his service aboard the USS Enterprise.