Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities have been remanded.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been caused by in-service exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus with hypertension and erectile dysfunction, as well as diabetic retinopathy, were denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with hypertension and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with other claims for increased ratings, and thus must be addressed together.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and clarification of when the Veteran first noticed symptoms of toenail fungus. The claims for an earlier effective date for diabetes, increased rating for hearing loss, and service connection for big toe disabilities remain on appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various knee and foot disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and stroke. The Veteran is advised to cooperate with the scheduling of the requested examinations.

The Veteran's skin condition, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, heart disability, anemia, and peripheral neuropathy are all granted. The skin condition is due to herbicide exposure. Bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent from July 18, 2011 through January 19, 2012, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. Diabetes mellitus is rated at 10 percent prior to November 7, 2012, and 20 percent thereafter. The heart disability and anemia are secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and remanded the remaining issues. The Veteran's claims are now pending before the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU as a matter of law due to his failure to report for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, liver cirrhosis, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and diabetes mellitus for service connection as well as the substitution claim due to incomplete notification.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance of another person prior to December 20, 2019.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for SMC (l) and automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment benefits, as he does not have anatomical loss or use of both feet, one hand and one foot. The decision was based on the current evidence showing no functional impairment requiring aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for diabetic nephropathy have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete opinion regarding whether the Veteran's legal blindness and eye conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus or pterygium of the left eye.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, cardiovascular disability, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to missing or canceled VA examinations and rude behavior from the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected GERD, diabetes mellitus, migraine headaches, and vertigo. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for GERD or diabetes mellitus, but the claims of service connection for migraine headaches and vertigo are being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (DMT2) and related secondary conditions. The case was remanded for additional development regarding a breathing condition.,Service connection for anatomical loss of the bilateral lower extremities and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, both claimed as secondary to DMT2, were denied. The case was also remanded for an addendum VA medical opinion on a breathing condition.,The Board denied service connection for stroke, which was claimed as secondary to DMT2. The case was also remanded for additional development regarding a breathing condition.,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (DMT2) and related secondary conditions were denied. Service connection for a breathing condition, to include asbestosis, was remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral eye non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy without macular edema is caused by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, and the claim for this condition has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, respiratory disability (asthma and COPD), back disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, headache disability, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis, and voiding dysfunction are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.