Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus because there is no evidence of a service-connected disability upon which to base the secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error, specifically the missing VAMC San Antonio treatment records from May 18, 2012 through February 21, 2019. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination to address his diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted service connection for dry eye syndrome and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and hepatitis C due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various conditions. The appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, but the exact nature of his knee, back, cervical spine, and diabetes mellitus disabilities is unclear.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for the claims of service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, sleep disability (to include sleep apnea), and headache disability (to include as due to a TBI). The Veteran's VA treatment records from Tuscaloosa, Alabama in January 2011 are requested. Additionally, the Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease (CAD) are being remanded as the effective dates have not been established.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the above issues.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for type II diabetes mellitus and for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and information.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated eye complications have worsened since the last VA examination in March 2014. The Board has ordered additional examinations to determine the current severity of his diabetes mellitus and related conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus (DM) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that his DM required regulation of activities, and thus he could only be rated at the 20 percent level.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetic nephropathy as a complication of DM was also denied. The Board noted that the evidence did not show that the Veteran had renal dysfunction or other compensable complications from his diabetes.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and right ankle disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, and bilateral diabetic neuropathy, render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, both presumed due to herbicide exposure in Thailand and Vietnam, are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II as secondary to in-service tactical herbicide exposure due to insufficient evidence regarding his service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 15, 2018 for the grant of TDIU and DEA benefits due to inextricability with the TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher initial disability rating for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that there was no evidence of an official diagnosis prior to August 25, 2014, and that the current 20 percent rating adequately reflects his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) and its impact on his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various conditions due to new evidence and exposure claims. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is reopened but the AOJ must obtain additional medical records and determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides or other toxins.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, and his service-connected anxiety disorder has an effective date of April 16, 2014. The Board also found that the Veteran’s genitourinary disability, digestive disability, sleep apnea, right upper extremity neurologic disability, left upper extremity neurologic disability, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and seborrheic keratosis are related to his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for bilateral crutches used in 2018 is granted due to the wear and tear caused by his service-connected disabilities, specifically peripheral neuropathy.