Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, skin condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, IBS, left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, left hand pain, left arm pain, lower back pain, and bilateral toe conditions have all been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for an upper respiratory disorder, diastolic heart failure (claimed as heart condition), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran was granted TDIU from February 16, 2012 to July 5, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD, as well as the potential aggravation of sleep apnea by diabetes mellitus. The Veteran will need additional medical evaluations to address these issues.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, is granted. The issues of service connection for alcohol abuse as secondary to service-connected PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to alcohol abuse and service-connected PTSD are remanded. Service connection for hypertension due to service-connected disabilities (including diabetes mellitus) and herbicide exposure is also remanded. Service connection for a skin disorder due to herbicide exposure is remanded. The issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is remanded. TDIU is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other conditions related to service. The condition is not present and has not been shown to be related to any incident during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to missed VA examinations, and for obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II are both being evaluated.

The Veteran's service connection claims for aphasia, coronary artery disease, diabetes, glaucoma, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, right upper extremity, left upper extremity, peripheral vascular disease of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, right upper extremity, and left upper extremity are all denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for prostate cancer is also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was managed with a restricted diet and oral hypoglycemic agent, but not insulin or regulation of activities. Therefore, the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes has been reopened and is now considered. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, finding that the Veteran's conditions had their onset during his military service. The Board also remanded the issue of hypertension to allow for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 19, 2013. Therefore, the claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have made it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 18, 2010.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that it does not require regulation of activities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient clarification on whether the Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus began during his active service or was aggravated by his National Guard service. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the temporal proximity of the diagnosis and the significance of the periods of duty.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and in-service VX nerve agent exposure.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it was not incurred in or related to active duty service.,The Board remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to potential exposure to herbicide agents while serving near the territorial waters of Vietnam.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, finding that his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand is presumed and thus he meets the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease and Type 2 diabetes mellitus have been granted service connection due to presumed exposure near the DMZ in Korea. The Veteran also has a 50% rating for PTSD, but his peripheral neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy claims are denied.,PTSD is currently rated at 50%, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including dementia, chronic pancreatitis, and various neuropathies. The SMC rating is at the P-2 level.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral glaucoma. The Veteran is seeking service connection and a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type 2.