Diabetes decisions — 2020

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.

The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted service connection, and his eye disorder is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma prior to February 13, 2020 is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rate of SMC based on loss of use or blindness in one eye having light perception only is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder is denied. The claims of service connection for prostatitis, diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II have been granted. The claim for hypertension has been remanded, and the claim for erectile dysfunction also needs further development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure during his time in Thailand.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of June 30, 2004 for service connection of diabetes mellitus type II based on a liberalizing law. The decision found no clear and unmistakable error in the original rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes is secondary to her service-connected migraines and if her migraines caused or aggravated her obesity, which in turn contributed to her diabetes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has ordered remand to consider whether a higher rating is warranted. Additionally, the issue of TDIU is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the increased rating claim.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for diabetes, finding that no earlier claim was pending and that the Veteran's claim was received after May 10, 2001.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension and cardiomyopathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinea pedis, bilateral flat feet, right and left knee disabilities, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board found that there is no evidence of any in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and that they are not otherwise causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's death was caused by an acute myocardial infarct, but the Board is unable to determine if he served in the territorial sea of Vietnam and therefore cannot decide his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected eye disability has not been evaluated since March 2016, and the Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to decide his claim. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his diabetic retinopathy with open angle glaucoma and diabetic cortical cataracts.

A rating of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus was granted prior to December 19, 2014. A higher rating is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus was established.

The Veteran's service connection claims for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral diabetic retinopathy are all granted as they are presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure during his active duty in Thailand.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional medical records and a VA opinion regarding the Veteran's RA. The appeals for PTSD, RA, DM, SAH, and SHA are being remanded.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, which requires insulin and a restricted diet. The rating is effective as of the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy (sciatic nerve) and femoral nerve disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of more than moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The bilateral eye condition is denied.