Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to new evidence added to the record since the last AOJ adjudication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to a lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents during his military service and because there was no evidence that the condition manifested within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and obstructive sleep apnea claims are remanded for further development. The VA will obtain updated treatment records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess his diabetes complications and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the automobile and adaptive equipment claim is inextricably intertwined with multiple pending service connection claims. Therefore, these issues must be resolved before the current claim can be decided.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM2) is granted as it is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claim for chloracne is denied as there is no evidence of its occurrence during service or due to herbicide exposure. The claim for peripheral neuropathy secondary to DM2 is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's claim for chloracne remains denied as there is no evidence of its occurrence during service or due to herbicide exposure. The claim for peripheral neuropathy secondary to DM2 is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for right knee, left knee, back, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II disabilities. The issues are remanded due to a lack of SSA records.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection claims are being considered.

The Veteran is found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral arterial disease of the bilateral lower extremities, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded. The initial rating for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is denied. An initial 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus is granted. Service connection for prostate cancer residuals is granted at a 10 percent rating. Service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient development and lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant, as his service-connected disabilities may be related to his medical conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and thus granting the claim based on reasonable doubt.

The Veteran's appeals regarding sleep apnea and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II have been dismissed. The appeal regarding PTSD and TDIU has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, testicular hypofunction, and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II has been granted a 40 percent rating, effective February 25, 2013. Additionally, the Veteran is now rated as 100 percent for his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety since September 12, 2018. The Board also granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the combined effect of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after the November 2015 supplemental statement of the case, including VA and private treatment records that were not previously considered. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 60 percent since January 28, 2019. The Board must determine if a rating in excess of 20 percent was warranted prior to January 28, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The Board will consider all relevant evidence, including recent VA examination reports and treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for hypoglycemia and diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within a year after discharge, and the Veteran did not provide any medical or lay evidence linking his current conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his obesity, which led to the development of diabetes mellitus type II. Therefore, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is granted.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, COPD, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, arthritis of the knees, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to additional development needs.,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions as there is no evidence linking them to service.