Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claims for HTN, ED, and eczema as secondary to DM or exposure to herbicides are remanded. The Veteran's service-connected DM is rated at 20 percent, PN of the left lower extremity prior to January 24, 2020, is rated at 10 percent, and PN of the right lower extremity from January 24, 2020, is rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's CAD is rated at 10 percent prior to January 10, 2019, and from March 1, 2019, to January 23, 2020. His BHL and nephropathy are not compensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss has been granted.,Service connection is established for type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities. The claims for a chronic skin condition, diabetic retinopathy, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy are withdrawn.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction, including as due to diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure or an etiological link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and a left foot disorder due to potential issues with development and opinion requests. The special monthly compensation claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's right and left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy have been rated at 10 percent each, effective February 27, 2017. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for these conditions.,The Veteran's right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy has been rated at 20 percent, and his left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy has also been rated at 20 percent, effective February 27, 2017. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and service, or within one year post-service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that his DMII required regulation of activities to avoid complications. For the period prior to April 24, 2013, the Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as there was no evidence showing he could not secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's skin disorder is not considered a part of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and he failed to report for the required VA examination. Therefore, his claim for an additional rating is denied.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his active service. The appeal for DIC benefits based on the cause of death is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while serving off the coast of Vietnam, which is necessary for establishing presumptive service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of left and right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, as well as for special monthly compensation based on housebound status. The decision found that no earlier effective date was warranted due to lack of formal claims or sufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including a lack of records search for Agent Orange exposure in Korea and SSA disability benefits records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 5, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and non-Hodgkins lymphoma due to in-service herbicide exposure. The VA is instructed to seek information from the JSRRC regarding whether the 603rd Military Airlift Support Squadron at Kadena Air Base worked on or serviced C-123 aircraft that were known to have sprayed herbicide agents during the Veteran's service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that prior to February 22, 2016, his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and maintaining employment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and hypertension. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus type II was denied as the evidence did not show a prior denial or pending claim before VA between May 3, 1989 and May 8, 2001.