Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, B-cell leukemia, and mood disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development due to issues related to hypertension, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy. No specific rating was assigned.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is secondary or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine strain and knee strain disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and is not otherwise related to active duty service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a history of diabetes during service, which established continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetic retinopathy and bilateral cataracts was denied as there is no evidence of any incapacitating episodes or visual impairment that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The new evidence submitted does not relate to this issue.,Prostate cancer was denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure or a link to Agent Orange exposure, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that prostate cancer is related to service.,Type II diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's claim for hearing loss was also denied.,Low back disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or a link to service, and the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to reopen his low back disorder claim.,The Veteran's hearing loss claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the service connection and SMC claims due to incomplete development of evidence, particularly regarding the relationship between the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and his vision loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and determine appropriate effective dates and ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases for further medical opinions regarding service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), and a colon disability including diverticulitis and colon diverticulosis. The issues are related to secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability, including glaucoma and cataracts, to specifically include as secondary to hepatitis C. The case is being returned for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of obesity, and therefore, his claim for service connection is denied. The diabetes mellitus, Sjorgen's syndrome, erectile dysfunction, gallstones, GERD, diverticulitis, thyroid disease, diastasis of muscle, BPH, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and bilateral eye disabilities are all remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the DIC claim is inextricably intertwined with other claims and thus must be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to benefits for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMII), and gout. The Veteran's claims are also granted for increased ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and renal insufficiency due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability contributed to his death. A medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran’s death was caused, aggravated, or hastened by his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's requests to reopen service connection claims for various conditions were denied. The Board also remanded several issues, including a low back disability rating and hypertension rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's conditions are related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.