Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to scheduling issues with VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 (a). The Board has remanded the claim to consider whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include as due to herbicide exposure, should be remanded due to lack of proper notification and scheduling of an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bladder cancer was reopened, and he is now receiving a 60 percent rating effective February 27, 2018. The effective dates for service connection for diabetic nephropathy and scar, residual prostate cancer are also set to this date. An increased rating of 80 percent for residuals of prostate cancer is granted as of the same date. TDIU due to diabetes mellitus is granted starting from February 27, 2018, and SMC is granted effective from February 27, 2018 through June 30, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral eye condition, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examination and consideration of an extraschedular TDIU for the period before October 7, 2015.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to colon cancer, which is not service-connected.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and chronic fatigue syndrome were denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for additional evidence and examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are not currently decided as they involve new issues.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. An effective date earlier than February 17, 2010 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease is denied. Service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus type II are granted as these conditions are presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and a tumor behind right eardrum, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have any competent evidence of an in-service injury or incident resulting in his current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for OSA is being remanded as there may be a link between his military service and undiagnosed illness. Additional evidence is needed, including records from 2010 when he was referred for evaluation of sleep apnea.,The Veteran's claims for kidney stones and diabetes are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus is being remanded as there may be a link between his military service and aggravation of his already elevated blood sugar levels. Additional evidence is needed, including records from 2010 when he was referred for evaluation of sleep apnea.,The Veteran's claims for left shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.,The Veteran's claim for back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.,The Veteran's claims for knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, asthma, and lumbago with a central disc bulge at L5-S1 and degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded as there is no medical opinion addressing the potential causation or aggravation between his service and DMII.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, kidney condition, nocturia, and sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The remand is due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's exposure to Vietnam during TDY assignments.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on service connection claims, including a claim for cause of death. No other issues have been resolved.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service or exposure to herbicide agents. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support the claims.

The Board denied service connection for a cardiovascular disorder and diabetes mellitus, finding that the disorders were not incurred in or related to service, including as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's cause of death is service-connected, and the claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits is dismissed as moot.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for various conditions, including DM II, peripheral neuropathies, and COPD. The claim for service connection for COPD was reopened due to new evidence submitted by the appellant.