Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, lung disability, ischemic heart disease, skin cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to exposure to dust and chemicals in service as a dental technician.

The Board denied DIC benefits for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that there was no service connection and no evidence linking the cause of death to service.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service aboard the USS Lockwood in Da Nang Harbor, Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, thus his claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Board denied service connection for an endocrine disorder, including diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism, finding no evidence of a nexus between the disorders and active service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorder, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology, and rejecting the claim based on herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service in Guam and that diabetes did not manifest within one year of separation from service. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in opinions regarding the relationship between hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II, as well as PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection is not about exposure to Agent Orange or other presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the earliest date of receipt of a claim was August 30, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of herbicide exposure and requests for private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. Diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Obstructive sleep apnea is found to be related to the Veteran's active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, organic brain syndrome, sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral foot disability. The issues are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Veteran's left foot wound or ulcer is granted service connection as it is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes. The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and CAD are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board has found that the Veteran's voiding dysfunction, lumbar spine disability, finger disabilities of the right hand and left hand, and diabetes mellitus, type II do not meet the criteria for service connection. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the untimely filing of his VA Form 9. The issue will be readjudicated after obtaining new medical opinions and evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected eye disability is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the December 2019 VA examination report.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and adjudication, including obtaining medical opinions to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities and verifying his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a neuropsychiatric disorder was granted. Claims for diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), occipital neuralgia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD were denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's gout is granted with an initial rating of 60 percent, effective April 1, 2016. Other service connection claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus type II due to insufficient development in previous examinations. The Veteran is required to be examined by a sleep specialist at an alternative location.