Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be unable to work, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his combined rating of at least 70 percent.

The Veteran's NASH is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,A 40 percent rating for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted over the course of the appeal.,A 30 percent rating for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted over the course of the appeal.,A 40 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatica and a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatica are granted over the course of the appeal.,Service connection for macular degeneration of the left eye, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, is remanded.,TDIU is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his claimed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's in-service exposure and obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between his conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and a pancreatic disorder have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, left wrist disability, sinusitis, residuals of umbilical hernia repair, DM, asthma, OSA and hypertension have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis has been rated at 10 percent since November 2007. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.

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

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was denied, as the evidence did not show more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the combined disability rating being less than 60% and the Veteran's inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

Your claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type two has been fully granted in a May 2020 rating decision. The appeal is dismissed as there are no remaining disputed issues.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder is not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition, and the claim for service connection is denied.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and sleep apnea are remanded for further development regarding whether they are caused by or aggravated by his service-connected unspecified mood disorder.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence of its onset during active duty or within one year after separation, and the current condition is not otherwise related to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran is unable to engage in sedentary employment due to these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, left hand and wrist disorder, and right hand and wrist disorder are all granted. The issues of service connection for hypertension and bilateral hand and wrist disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's facial lesion is rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that the evidence did not show scar with visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of two features or paired sets of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips) as required for a 50 percent rating.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include PTSD rated at 50%, Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy rated at 40%, and Facial Lesion rated at 30%. The combined evaluation is 90%.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service is also not supported.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Effective September 15, 2017 to September 18, 2019, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand joint pain, right hand joint pain, diabetes mellitus, type II, and squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) were denied. The claim for increased rating of radiculopathy of the LLE sciatic nerve was granted at 40 percent prior to June 9, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right knee disability and diabetes mellitus, type II have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tension headaches, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of various extremities due to inadequate rationales in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine the current severity of her tension headaches, etiology of her diabetes mellitus, and nature and etiology of any diagnosed peripheral neuropathies.