Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, and he has additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent. Therefore, the Veteran is entitled to SMC at the housebound rate from September 27, 2008 to January 23, 2010.

The Board has decided that a TDIU is warranted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The decision is remanded for further action including obtaining outstanding medical records, clarifying part-time employment history, and seeking documents related to any applications for SSDI or unemployment insurance benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a demyelinating disorder due to insufficient information about its nature and etiology.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) are not service-connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD), leukemia, COPD, AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder, urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, cervical spine disability (cervical spine disability), DMII (diabetes mellitus, type II), and lumbar spine disability are not granted.,Service connection for leukemia is remanded.,Service connection for COPD is remanded.,Service connection for AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder (claimed as arthritis of the left shoulder) is remanded.,Service connection for urinary frequency, to include as secondary to service-connected DMII with diabetic ulcer of the right foot or service-connected lumbar spine disability, and service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to service-connected DMII or service-connected lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity prior to July 19, 2012, and higher than 30 percent thereafter; peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity prior to July 19, 2012, and higher than 20 percent thereafter; peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity; and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.,Service connection for cervical spine disability (cervical spine disability); service connection for DMII (diabetes mellitus, type II); and service connection for lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Service connection for CAD associated with hypertension is remanded.,Service connection for lipoma tumor on the spine is remanded.

The Veteran's seizure disorder is rated at 100 percent due to an average of at least one major seizure per month over the past year.,Service connection for a right hip condition and diabetes mellitus, type II are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction due to VA's failure to obtain records related to potential herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, based on presumed exposure to herbicides during the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination to assess his employment capacity.

The Veteran's entitlement to nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted on May 14, 2018, and the Board found that this date is when his entitlement arose. Therefore, an earlier effective date than May 14, 2018, for these benefits is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to uncertainty about the Veteran's exposure to herbicides. The AOJ must determine if his Republic of Korea service qualifies as 'in or near the DMZ' and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for low back disability, left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate examination reports and conflicting findings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DM, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and cataracts have been dismissed. The case is remanded for further evaluations of the service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and headaches due to inadequate medical opinions and potential outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Type II diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a recurrent right foot diabetic ulcer, and diabetic nephropathy are granted. The heart and pulmonary disability issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of evidence related to the Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and glaucoma due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's conditions are being evaluated based on their relation to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia aggravated his cause of death, which is a contributory factor in his death.

The Veteran's appeals for restoration of his prostate cancer disability rating and effective dates for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to Agent Orange, but the claims for lower back pain and an unspecified acquired psychiatric disorder (specifically anxiety disorder) are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The appeals will be considered again after further review.