Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service in Japan constitutes a radiation-risk activity and to address the etiology of his contributory causes of death: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dementia.

The Board denied service connection for granulomatous disease/sarcoidosis, but remanded the claim for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure.,Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Korea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to arrange for VA examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran’s PTSD, type II diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss, as well as verify his employment history.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence from private care providers who have treated him for diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for right foot drop, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes mellitus type II. The Board found that the Veteran's current right foot drop is more likely a manifestation of his service-connected diabetes-related neuropathy.

The Veteran's lung disability, low back disability, upper back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), left knee disability, right knee disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, sinus disability, memory loss, hypertension, colon polyps, prostate disability, stomach disability, skin disability (including skin cancer and actinic keratosis), throat disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, kidney cysts, and liver cyst are all denied. However, the Veteran's lung disability is granted as due to asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that while obesity may be related to his service-connected disabilities, it did not meet the criteria for secondary service connection as a result.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy resulted in minimal visual impairment, with corrected distance vision of 20/40 bilaterally. The Board found that the constricted visual fields were not related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus or diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD (claimed as mental health condition) is denied an effective date prior to December 12, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for Type II Diabetes Mellitus with cataracts is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a separate and compensable evaluation for bilateral cataracts associated with Type II Diabetes Mellitus with cataracts is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve associated with Type II Diabetes Mellitus with cataracts is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve associated with Type II Diabetes Mellitus with cataracts is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity femoral nerve is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for meralgia paresthica of the right thigh is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease bilateral sacroiliac joints with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and back spasms is denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, and left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and left heel disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, hairy cell leukemia, and diabetes mellitus are all presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as his diabetic retinopathy, are also presumed to be related to his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy have been denied due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure. The claim for secondary service connection has also been denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and lung cancer are granted as due to herbicide agent exposure during service in Thailand.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including stomach hernia, diabetes, cervical spine disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and myopathy. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is manifested by no more than moderate severe incomplete paralysis and the Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent, but no greater.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer due to exposure to Agent Orange. The issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction as a residual of prostate cancer is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypothyroidism, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of both legs due to additional VA treatment records being added to the record.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development.,Service connection for Peyronie's disease is remanded as secondary to service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Board has not found sufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The appeal is remanded to allow further development of the record.