Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability due to an inextricably intertwined issue with other claims. The case is now pending and will be adjudicated again.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, a left leg disability resulting in amputation, and a kidney condition due to diabetes mellitus. The diagnoses are based on the Veteran's complaints of pain from his back disability leading to weight gain and obesity, which aggravated his diabetes. The Board also found that the Veteran’s diabetes mellitus was aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and heart condition, all of which the Veteran claimed were caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or time in proximity to Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his reported military stressors. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus type II due to a stay by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are granted. The VA is directed to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine if his hypertension, PTSD, sleep apnea, loss of teeth, pulmonary edema, and erectile dysfunction are related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred or aggravated during service, and the Board denied his claim. The cases for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, and right foot disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction were also denied, with the Board finding that these conditions did not manifest during active service or due to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment but does not meet the criteria for a 70% rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an undiagnosed condition including symptoms related to hypoglycemia and diabetes is remanded due to the need for a medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran needs an examination to assess his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to use aids such as braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU from January 4, 2011 is dismissed as the RO has already granted this benefit.,An effective date prior to January 4, 2011 for the grant of TDIU is denied because the evidence does not show that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to that date.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. Service connection was granted for anxiety.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type II is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ needs to obtain an addendum from the VA examiner clarifying whether the Veteran meets the clinical criteria for a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and explaining why he does not have such a diagnosis despite his elevated glucose levels and Metformin prescription.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral feet, neck disability, arm disability, knee disability, leg disability (other than neurologic), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hydrocele of scrotum with hard knot, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed to properly assess the Veteran's diabetes and its associated complications, including peripheral neuropathy. The claims for increased ratings and service connection will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of a link between his service and the condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for DM, HTN, and hypothyroidism due to new evidence received since his previous denial. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, major depressive disorder, psychosis for the purpose of establishing eligibility for treatment, and a higher initial rating for tinnitus are dismissed. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is granted.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances related to knee braces, a manual wheelchair, diabetic shoes and inserts, and topical medication were denied. The decision grants payment of a clothing allowance for bilateral knee braces used due to service-connected disabilities that wore out his clothing in 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's left popliteal arterial thrombosis, which led to his amputation, was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and hypertension.