Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left ear hearing loss, degenerative arthritis in the arms, elbows, legs, sleep apnea, colon disorder, corns on the feet, fibromyalgia, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran was not diagnosed with any of these conditions during or after his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea due to inextricably intertwined issues and potential exposure to environmental hazards. The AOJ is instructed to conduct further development as outlined.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The VA also denied increased ratings for various conditions, including a right brachial plexus injury and migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and status post right fibular head resection have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of the conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DMII, as due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange), is granted. The claim for secondary service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy LLE and RLE, related to his service-connected DMII, is also granted.

The Board has determined that new evidence submitted by the Veteran is relevant to his claims for service connection for various conditions, and these claims are being remanded for further review.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus may be related to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, and thus remands for further examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and diabetic retinopathy need further development due to missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for type II diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, hypertension (presumptive due to herbicide exposure), bilateral knee strain, acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, and lumbar strain are all denied. The Veteran's claim for residuals of a left shoulder injury is remanded.,Service connection for the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorder is also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability. The claims for service connection for cervical spine, right hip, right knee, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to the lack of credible supporting evidence for his claimed in-service stressors. The Veteran's diabetes and PTSD symptoms were not found to necessitate regular aid and attendance.,Special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance/housebound status was also denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran required such assistance.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and increased rating for degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome have all been denied.,Service connection was not granted because there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's lay statements regarding herbicide exposure were found to be inconsistent with the places, types, and circumstances of his service.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) is granted.,Service connection for a peripheral circulatory disorder, originally claimed as peripheral vascular disease, to include as secondary to DMII, is granted.,Service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to DMII, is remanded.,Service connection for chronic kidney disease, to include as secondary to DMII, is remanded.,Service connection for cataracts, to include as secondary to DMII, is remanded.,Service connection for cardiomegaly, to include as secondary to DMII (claimed as an enlarged heart), is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, to include as secondary to DMII, is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, to include as secondary to DMII, is remanded.,Service connection for tremors (possible Parkinson's disease), to include as secondary to DMII, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist violation. The AOJ must obtain and associate with the record any relevant private and military base treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings and effective dates have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal of all issues before the Board.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. However, additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the hearing loss is directly related to service or secondary to diabetes.

The appeal of the issues related to migraines, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, and left second metacarpal fracture is dismissed as these conditions have been awarded service connection. The issue of service connection for a left shoulder condition is remanded.