Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that the severity was due to nonservice-connected alcohol abuse rather than diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of a July 2016 VA opinion regarding bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, heart disorder, left leg tumor, prostate cancer, vision disorder, peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea. The Board will seek verification of herbicide agent exposure in Korea and obtain an addendum opinion from an audiologist to address the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, finding that these conditions did not materially contribute to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The other issues on appeal have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for bilateral hand disability, bilateral knee disability, gout, hypertension, mesothelioma, heart disability, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% from September 28, 2012. A TDIU is granted effective August 6, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a vision disability, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The case is being returned for an addendum opinion to determine whether any eye disability diagnosed during the appeal period (December 2007 to December 2017) are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the prior remand instructions and has therefore ordered a new examination to determine if the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is related to his service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents in Korea. The hypertension claim is also being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but the claims for diabetes mellitus and lumbar spine disability are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was no evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various peripheral neuropathy and right-hand disorders have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, as well as the claims for increased evaluations for hypertension and asthma, are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his time at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand, which is considered a burn pit exposure basis.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy) as they are not related to service. The Veteran's death was also not found to be caused by any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. The claim is being referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, lung cancer and COPD, as well as disabilities of the right and left hands. The claims are being remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and chronic kidney disease (including diabetic nephropathy) due to herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and potential in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The claims will be further developed with examinations by appropriate clinicians.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, both presumed due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current diagnoses are supported by medical records, and his claims are based on presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The claim for a higher rating for prostate cancer was granted effective March 30, 2020.