Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's loss of field vision in his right eye, specifically related to diabetic retinopathy and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and renal insufficiency (claimed as severe kidney problems) was denied. The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at 100 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to new evidence received, issues not addressed in previous decisions, and potential need for extra-schedular analysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 1, 2007. The Board granted the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His diabetes mellitus, type II was rated at 20 percent throughout the period on appeal. His acute myocardial infarction was rated at 10 percent prior to June 13, 2019, and at 30 percent thereafter. Service connection for an eye disability (glaucoma and cataracts) secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, and service connection for a hearing loss disability were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with visual complications, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient evidence to establish his claimed Vietnam-era service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder was granted. The claims for tinea pedis, respiratory disability (including chronic bronchitis, COPD, and other respiratory pathology related to pulmonary eosinophilic granulomatosis and obstructive sleep apnea), foot disability other than tinea pedis, upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right knee disability are still pending and need further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, diabetes mellitus, type II, and right shoulder disability have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for left knee disorder and bilateral plantar fasciitis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus is granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand during the Vietnam Era.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his time at Udorn Royal Thai Air Base. The VA is instructed to verify the Veteran’s reports of alleged exposure and provide additional records as needed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and other conditions that have rendered him unable to maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher schedular ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The Veteran's claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for evaluation of his service-connected scars is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot disability, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus due to ionizing radiation exposure. The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any in-service complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were withdrawn by the Appellant, and as a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claim of service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II can be fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete examinations conducted by non-orthopedic specialists. The claims are being returned for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as his conditions do not meet the required criteria, and there is no new and material evidence to reopen his claim of prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he was employed in various positions such as taxi driver, custodian, and video production. His back disability limited his ability to work but he maintained employment until November 2017 when he became disabled due to diabetes.