Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it did not manifest during active service or within one year of separation and was not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to May 26, 2017. The evidence does not show that his disabilities were severe enough to preclude him from all forms of employment.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and a need for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and PTSD, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the combined evaluation of 60 percent from March 8, 2012 to November 18, 2015; and 80 percent from November 19, 2015 is correctly calculated based on the service-connected disability evaluations in effect at that time. The appeal for a higher combined evaluation is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dementia has been granted. The issues of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and severance of service connection for right knee instability have been remanded. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) has also been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The claims for service connection for kidney cancer, loss of kidney, and diabetes type II are denied as there is no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII) and ischemic heart disease (IHD), both due to exposure to herbicide agents, are granted. The claim for hypertension is remanded as it does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of congestive heart failure and granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's CHF or diabetes, but he is entitled to a rating increase for his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for diabetes and TDIU due to worsening of the condition since the last examination, as well as issues related to effective dates.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated as noncompensable prior to November 6, 2019, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or secondary to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II were also not found to be related to service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was denied as it did not have its onset during service or is otherwise unrelated to his service. His hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II were also not found to be related to service. The Board acknowledged the Veteran's contention that his obstructive sleep apnea may be related to in-service snoring but found this insufficient evidence for a direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for hypertension and its aggravation by type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, hypertension related to diabetes mellitus, and visual impairment related to diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied as there were no formal or informal claims received prior to August 21, 2017. The Board found that the evidence did not show a factually ascertainable increase in disability during the one-year period prior to his August 2017 claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions as they are not related to active military service.

The Board has decided that the service connection for obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to a need for medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obesity and diabetes mellitus, which may have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right eye disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and congestive heart failure due to inadequate etiology opinions based on missing medical records.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding hypertension and diabetes mellitus as the Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is rated at 40 percent since August 30, 2012. The Board denied increased ratings above this level for both LLE and RLE diabetic peripheral neuropathy.