Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for stomach cancer as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence supporting this determination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as the issues were withdrawn during a personal hearing.,Issues such as right knee disorder, left knee disorder, wrist carpal tunnel syndromes, upper and lower extremity neuropathies, nerve spasms in back, foot nerve spasms, fatigue, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and TDIU have all been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals during a personal hearing.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus is denied. A special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ (erectile dysfunction) is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 3, 2011. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined impact of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes with erectile dysfunction has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism, as well as the rating for residuals of posterior iliac crest injury with degenerative joint disease, bursitis, and sensory deficit. The issues are related to secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increase in the evaluation of his diabetes to 20 percent is denied. The case is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, including renal disease with hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, have resulted in a combined rating of at least 80 percent since May 2011, and currently 90 percent. The Board has granted TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD, render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetic nephropathy associated with type II diabetes mellitus was denied as the earliest date of entitlement is January 4, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for type II diabetes mellitus was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7913.,The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction associated with type II diabetes mellitus was denied as he already has a compensable rating for this condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unemployable from December 10, 2009. However, due to his non-service-connected back disability, a TDIU rating prior to March 1, 2011 is denied. The Board has also found that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), a digestive condition, a skin condition including shingles, and memory loss due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to a significant increase in weight and obesity, which are not disabilities for VA benefits. The claims will be reconsidered with an addendum medical opinion addressing whether the service-connected bilateral foot disability caused or aggravated the Veteran's weight gain and obesity.

The Veteran's service connection claims for DMII and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure are granted.,Service connection is also granted for ED, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to service-connected DMII.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's vision disabilities. The case will be reviewed with a new VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases due to procedural errors and additional development is required.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the claim for diabetes mellitus type II. The case is being returned to the RO to verify the Veteran's claimed herbicide agent exposure while stationed at Castle Air Force Base in California in 1980, and to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and that the condition did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter. The Board also found that the Veteran had a known family history of diabetes which placed him at risk.