Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess his disability picture.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain gainful employment, leading to a TDIU for the period prior to June 29, 2017. Beginning February 28, 2019, he is granted SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II and PTSD have been dismissed.,The Veteran's service connection claims for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (related to his service-connected diabetes) are granted. However, the claim for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new opinion regarding the Veteran's Type I diabetes mellitus, as the previous opinion did not address whether it is related to in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient efforts by VA to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Okinawa, Japan. The AOJ is instructed to make multiple requests to the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) covering the relevant time period in 60-day increments.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic arthritis of the right knee, bilateral hearing loss, type II diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy have been denied.,No effective date has been assigned as all claims are denied.

The Board has vacated the May 2019 decision denying a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 19, 2013 due to new evidence submitted in June 2019. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if he was exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise or reverse a March 2006 decision, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the original decision regarding increased evaluation for chronic thrombophlebitis of the right leg and earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's left tibia scar and bilateral tinnitus have been evaluated based on the criteria provided in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, so his claims are denied.,The Veteran's liver transplant is considered to be unrelated to service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current liver condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to alleged exposure to herbicides at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The AOJ is instructed to attempt verification of the Veteran's claimed herbicide exposure and obtain any relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examination opinions and the need for translation of private medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure while stationed in Thailand.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's daughter, K.J., is granted helpless child benefits on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support before attaining the age of 18.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension. The issues include determining if hypertension is secondary to diabetes mellitus type II and/or prostate cancer, or directly related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure. The hypertension, hypothyroidism, and erectile dysfunction claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined disability ratings of 80 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, depression, PTSD, and diabetes mellitus type II due to a lack of medical evidence on record regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii during his service.