Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to the record, and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and disability ratings for various conditions, including migraines, neck disability, back disability, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, varicose veins of the left lower extremity, left shoulder disability, and anxiety. The Veteran's SSA records have not been associated with the claims file.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether ischemic stroke is related to service-connected cardiovascular disease, and a new examination is needed to clarify this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left arm and shoulder disability, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus, type II are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral knee disability, and arthritis of the hands and feet. The claims were based on direct evidence without any presumption or secondary relationship.,There was no in-service diagnosis or treatment for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed disabilities, finding that he was not exposed to herbicides during service and thus could not establish presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted a 40% rating for the period prior to November 8, 2019. The ratings for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and TDIU are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any residuals of prostate cancer. The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer are currently pending.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and kidney failure as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The claims for right ear hearing loss, bilateral eye disability, BLE arthritis, gout, diabetes mellitus, left ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, surgical scar, tinnitus, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability have been dismissed due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal.,The claim for liver disability has also been dismissed as there was no adequate substantive appeal.

The Board has denied earlier effective dates for various service connection claims, and has remanded the issues of service connection for trigger finger of the right middle finger and right ring fingers.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, lumbar spine disability, bilateral foot condition (toe condition), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, left leg laceration, LUE peripheral neuropathy, and DMII have been denied.,No new evidence has been provided to support the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents and/or fuel for arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertensive vascular disease, chronic renal disease, and type II diabetes mellitus. The VA is instructed to contact the JSRRC to determine if herbicides were used in Okinawa, Japan (particularly at Kadena Air Base) during the relevant time period.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,There is no evidence of a kidney disability during or recent to the appeal period. The Veteran's claims for service connection for circulatory problems, hypertension, and prostate hypertrophy are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board denied service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and erectile disorder (claimed as low libido) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's service or any service-connected disability.

The Board's decision is vacated due to the need for additional development of the appeal, specifically acquiring private treatment notes related to the Veteran's eye disorder.

The claim for service connection for skin disability of the groin, claimed as jungle rot, has been reopened and is granted. The claim for service connection for diabetes is dismissed.