Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records review.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from March 1, 2017 onward due to service-connected disabilities. However, the case is remanded for consideration of whether a TDIU should be awarded from October 1, 2013 to March 1, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its secondary peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to herbicide exposure in the Republic of Korea. The Veteran's claims are based on presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to May 6, 2003 for total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA). The evidence did not support earlier TDIU or DEA eligibility due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities have been remanded due to a lack of VA examination records and notification issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, compensation for loss of use of the lower extremities due to service-connected disability, and entitlement to a specially adapted automobile or adaptive equipment only. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed sleep apnea as there is no evidence that it began in service or is otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if referral for extraschedular TDIU is warranted for the period prior to May 4, 2013 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and neuropathy of the left lower extremity have all been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or an event not reasonably foreseeable. The use of amiodarone did not contribute to his cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that these conditions are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected shoulder and knee disabilities as well as his tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a left ear infection, and a right ankle disability due to lack of diagnosis during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, low back condition, bilateral hip condition, and fibromyalgia as the appellant did not have an injury during INACDUTRA that caused these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to a change in law regarding herbicide exposure and the need to determine if the Veteran served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam. The claim for service connection will be reconsidered with these new findings.

The Board has denied reopening the claim for hypertension and found that there is no new and material evidence to support it. The Veteran's high cholesterol was also not service-connected as a laboratory finding does not qualify for VA compensation.,Claims for earlier effective dates have been denied due to lack of proof of an increase in disability occurring within one year prior to the date of claim.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his active duty in or near the Korean DMZ. The claims are now reopened due to a change in law.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, tinnitus, and carpal tunnel syndrome, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of 90% for these conditions.

The Board has granted the appellant's request to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death. The appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s pancreatic cancer and whether his diabetes mellitus contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient development regarding the nature of chemicals and herbicides to which the Veteran was exposed in service, particularly as a 'smoke generator specialist'. The VA is instructed to seek this information from the CBRN and other relevant sources. If the exposure cannot be confirmed, it must be certified for the record. Additionally, the VA is directed to obtain an advisory medical opinion regarding whether the claimed disabilities are etiologically related to any potential service exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's claim for an eye disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, multiple myeloma, and diabetes mellitus due to potential herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam.