Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral glaucoma with diabetic retinopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II is found to be the primary cause of his diagnosed hypertension, kidney disability, peripheral neuropathies in multiple extremities. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for respiratory disability due to lack of evidence. The claims for PTSD, cardiovascular disabilities, and type II diabetes mellitus are remanded as there is insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or other potential stressors.

The Board has remanded both claims for service connection due to insufficient development of the record and need for medical opinions. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is related to in-service stressful covert training missions, while the diabetes mellitus claim requires further consideration regarding its relationship to service and any current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's death was not due to willful misconduct and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, as he was not continuously rated totally disabled for 10 years before his death or a former POW who died more than 10 years after separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined effect of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and low back disability as well as their secondary leg disabilities due to the need for an in-person VA examination. The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes is being reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The restoration of a 20 percent rating for hypertension was granted, but the claim for an increased rating remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The appeals for increased disability ratings for diabetic nephropathy, coronary artery disease, hearing loss, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and macular edema are dismissed. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include anxiety, depression, and PTSD is denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand and there is no evidence that his duties required him to be near the perimeter of the Korat Air Base.

The Veteran's liver cirrhosis non-alcohol related was proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and contributed substantially or materially to his death. Therefore, DIC based on the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, have rendered him unemployable since December 2, 1996. The decision grants a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure in Vietnam, which could affect his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his coronary artery disease myocardial infarction associated with herbicide exposure warrants a 30 percent rating. His diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction associated with herbicide exposure remains at 20 percent.,Both the Veteran’s coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus require regulation of activities to manage their effects, but neither warrant an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claim of service connection for OSA is granted, but his claim for diabetes mellitus, type II remains pending.

The Veteran's diabetes prior to May 29, 2014 was rated at 40 percent due to the need for insulin and a restricted diet with regulation of activities. From May 29, 2014, his rating is denied as he did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for a disorder manifested by shortness of breath and remanded the issues regarding diabetes mellitus, PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder with anxiety disorder associated with PTSD, hypertension, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service, and a VA examination is needed to determine if his diabetes mellitus type II is related to this exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, Type II.,There was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.