Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities meet the schedular percentage criteria for a TDIU, and his age and prior employment as a letter carrier prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran meets the requirements for SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder and multiple peripheral neuropathies. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran's claim.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, a hematological disorder, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, and high blood pressure or hypertension, finding that the evidence did not show these disorders were incurred in or related to active duty service.

Your kidney disorder has already been granted service connection as secondary to your diabetes mellitus, type II. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to new evidence showing a potential relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his active service.,Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus, type II, heart condition, hypertension, and neurological disorder as these conditions are not subject to presumptive service connection from exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. Service connection for diabetic retinopathy has been granted.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 40 percent.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 30 percent.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 20 percent.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 20 percent.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is granted, but no higher.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but has remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, to include the hyperkeratotic lesion of the left foot, was evaluated at a 20 percent rating throughout the appeal period. The Board found that his physical activity was not regulated by medical advice or prescription and thus did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type 2 due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy resulted in mild intermittent pain and mild paresthesias, which the Board found to be best characterized as mild incomplete paralysis. The appeal for increased ratings was denied.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II have been denied. The RO granted an increased rating to 60 percent effective July 17, 2017 for service-connected coronary artery disease, status post stent placement. TDIU has been granted effective December 2, 2004.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted as service connected based on presumed exposure to an herbicide agent in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board has also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding hypertension, eye disability (claimed as loss of visual acuity), and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, kidney failure, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type 2, all of which were presumed to be related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claims were based on presumptive exposure under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(7).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, chronic sinusitis, coronary artery disease, colon cancer, and diabetes. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and active duty service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to new and material evidence. The appellant was exposed to herbicide agents while serving at Korat Air Force Base in Thailand, which is presumed to have caused his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and the relationship between his acute myeloid leukemia and service, including herbicide exposure. The VA is requested to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone or the combined effects of all service-connected conditions, do not render him unemployable for the period prior to March 31, 2017. The Board finds that TDIU is not warranted in this case.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and his DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 were denied due to lack of qualifying service-connected disabilities.