Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claim for nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, claimed as holes in the back of his eyes, is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's left second and third toes had active osteomyelitis from May 1, 2011 to November 7, 2011. The rating of 10 percent is granted for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the left upper, right upper, right lower, and left lower extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. Service connection was denied for erectile dysfunction due to lack of evidence linking it to active duty service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for skin cancer, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus due to additional development being necessary. The Veteran's service in Vietnam is not presumed based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran no longer meets the criteria for SMC based on housebound status due to service-connected disabilities, and thus discontinuance of SMC benefits is proper.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is remanded due to inconsistencies in VA examination reports and treatment records, as well as a failure to obtain all relevant VA treatment records from Tucson and Prescott.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), and cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran is not competent to provide a medical opinion regarding the cause or aggravation of his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic nephropathy was granted an 80% disability rating effective December 4, 2019. Prior to this date, the disability was rated at 60%. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to August 28, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or after service and no link to service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, stroke disability, and service connection for bilateral lower extremity disability, migraine headaches disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The remaining issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, service connection for bilateral lower extremity disability (numbness and swelling in the ankles and feet), service connection for migraine headaches disability, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes, heart condition, hypertension, and liver condition due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service exposure to petroleum smoke.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if poor dentition related to service-connected recurrent fibroma has aggravated diabetes mellitus type I, and whether diabetes mellitus type II was proximately caused or aggravated by poor dentition related to service-connected recurrent fibroma.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's periods of service and herbicide agent exposure. The claim for diabetes mellitus, type II will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 100% rating effective October 12, 2018.,An increased rating of 70% for right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy is granted effective January 29, 2020.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II as the Veteran's DM has been treated with oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin and requires restriction of diet but not regulation of activities.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, and the Board found no evidence to warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's thoracic osteoarthritis is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board determined that the disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.,The Veteran was granted separate ratings of 10 percent each for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as his symptoms are analogous to mild incomplete paralysis of the femoral nerve.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of evidence showing chronicity in service or continuity of symptomatology post-service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not considered service-connected.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, a mental disorder, and various musculoskeletal conditions. However, these claims have been denied as there is no evidence to support the presence or causation of any of these conditions during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes caused his obesity and aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea.