Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for asbestosis, diabetes mellitus type II, and a skin condition due to inadequate reasons or bases in the May 2017 decision. The Veteran's private treatment records indicate diagnoses of asbestosis, but the VA examiner did not address these records directly. The Board also needs to determine if the U.S.S. America was within the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea of Vietnam during the Veteran's service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is secondary to his service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that his hearing loss did not begin in service.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are all granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him incapable of securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo and type II diabetes mellitus, finding that there is no evidence of a relationship to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The amputation of the right 2nd toe and left 4th toes was also denied as not related to service.,Service connection was not granted for diabetes mellitus or vision problems.

The Veteran's claim for recognition of C.R. as the 'helpless child' was denied due to insufficient evidence, and thus remains denied. The claim for D.R. is reopened but requires further examination to determine if he became permanently incapable of self-support before age 18.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions, including right breast disability, frostbite residuals, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, and high cholesterol. The claims are based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary relationship to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, Type II due to herbicide exposure are granted. The Board found the evidence sufficient to presume exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for various service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, were denied. The Board found that the criteria for an evaluation higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II were not met due to lack of evidence showing regulation of activities required by the disability. For other conditions, the Board noted inconsistencies in medical opinions regarding the need for restrictions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including coronary artery disease, coronary artery bypass graft scar residuals, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while serving on the USS General William Mitchell, and because of a lack of information about whether he was diagnosed with diabetes within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the issues of service connection for scalp condition, sleep apnea, urinary incontinence, hammer toe (right and left feet), right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neck disability, acquired psychiatric disability; rating for urinary incontinence, in excess of 10 percent prior to October 18, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter; earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for urinary incontinence; hammer toe (right and left feet); right shoulder disability; left shoulder disability; neck disability; acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's appeal has also been dismissed for issues regarding an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and earlier effective dates for those conditions.,The Veteran's migraine headache disability was granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need to obtain additional medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, Parkinson’s disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus are currently pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded for further development to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, and bipolar disorder as the evidence did not show current disabilities or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, left wrist CTS, right wrist CTS, RUE cervical radiculopathy, and LUE cervical radiculopathy. Service connection was also denied for DM as it is not shown to be related to service or a service-connected disability.

The appeals for type II diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and lung disorder were dismissed. The left breast calcifications appeal was remanded.