Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for diabetes, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and gastroenteritis, as well as the issue of service connection for pancreatitis. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated VA treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension may be related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents. However, more evidence is needed for a final decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. However, it has denied the claim itself due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's tinea cruris. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, right foot fungus, and left foot fungus.

The Board is remanding several service connection claims and a SMC claim for the Veteran's surviving spouse to determine if she can be substituted as the appellant. The issues include left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, stroke residuals, hypertension, dementia, and SMC.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides during active service and the Veteran's diabetes did not originate in or until years after his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the disability only warranted a 20 percent rating based on the need for insulin and restricted diet. The Veteran was not found to require regulation of activities due to diabetes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with associated erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and non-prolific diabetic retinopathy is remanded for further development. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to October 27, 2014 is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he passed away during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions regarding his diabetes and amputation. The Court found that the Board did not provide adequate reasons or bases for favoring the June 2016 VA examiner’s opinion over other positive private and VA nexus opinions.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, dermatophytosis/tinea pedis/onychomycosis, and right eye cataract were granted effective November 28, 2007.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted service connection. Right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, kidney condition, peripheral neuropathy of the hands, and feet as a result of exposure to herbicides are denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA eye examination.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disorder.,The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded because the VA examiner did not address the possible association between his service-connected hypothyroidism and his hypertension.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities' impact on employment.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus contributed to his death, which was caused by an acute cerebral vascular accident (stroke). The Board found that the preponderance of evidence supports the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to procedural issues and the need for additional evidence. Effective dates cannot be granted earlier than June 1, 2015.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, heart disease, diabetes, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities due to non-compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being referred back to the AOJ for adjudication.