Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates due to incomplete development and issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy have been rated at the maximum available ratings, with no further increase granted.,The Veteran is not found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's DMII and hypertension are rated based on their current severity. The Board has not found evidence supporting higher ratings for these conditions prior to July 28, 2018, or thereafter. The Veteran’s OSA and back disorder have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a private treatment record from February 2015.

Effective dates of June 7, 2017 are granted for service connection of left and right lower extremity sciatic neuropathy and left and right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the lack of a recent VA examination and the need for updated medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus due to incomplete verification of his Reserve service dates. The claims will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the effective dates are set to the date of receipt of the claim. The rating for gastroesophageal ulcer disease has also been increased.

The Veteran's increased ratings for coronary artery disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity have been denied. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 17, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of these disabilities.

The Board dismissed all appeals seeking service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, allergic rhinitis, anemia with vitamin D deficiency, and other medical issues. The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for hemorrhoids, but the issues of service connection for bilateral eye disability and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has dismissed the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since October 23, 2018. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including a cardiac disorder and diabetes mellitus type II, due to exposure to herbicide agents. The issues are related as they all involve secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a restored rating of 10% for his left shoulder scar is granted. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, and the issue remains pending. Service connection for neck disorder (cervical pseudoarthrosis and cervical spine arthritis) as secondary to left shoulder disability is granted. Service connection for cervical radiculopathy on the left side as secondary to the neck condition is also granted. The claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 1, 2014. The Board denied the claim for TDIU as there was no evidence of unemployment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's diabetes.