Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected peptic ulcer disease, esophageal disability, and diabetes mellitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since at least October 2011. A TDIU rating is granted effective September 30, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding no current diagnosis of the condition and thus failing to meet the first prong of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including PTSD, CAD, DM II, low back condition, left knee condition, and peripheral neuropathy) are of sufficient severity to preclude substantially gainful employment from May 15, 2008 to May 8, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of death, DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, and burial benefits at the service-connected rate due to a lack of evidence showing that his death was caused by VA medical treatment or negligence.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and the increased rating claim for hypertension. The Veteran's death in June 2018 affected the appeal process.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran's ship was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam while he served aboard, as this could affect his claim for service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show regulation of activities as part of medical management, thus denying a 40 percent evaluation.,For his right knee disability, the Veteran had an initial increase to 20 percent from June 17, 2014. However, he is now seeking higher evaluations for different periods and conditions.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected sensorineural hearing loss. The appeals for service connection for DMII, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, CAD, and left shoulder disorder are remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and erectile dysfunction. The issues of service connection for low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, neck disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral leg disorders are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis beginning February 23, 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. Service connection is denied for malaria residuals, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and bilateral cataracts were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, due to unclear personnel records and incomplete verification of herbicide exposure. The Veteran's time at Udorn Air Base was not considered in the previous attempt to verify his exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 19, 2017 for service connection of diabetic nephropathy was denied.,An initial rating in excess of 60 percent for diabetic nephropathy is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type 2, left lower extremity (LLE) peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity (RLE) peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve due to inadequate development regarding presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance was denied as there is no indication in the record that he had a physical or mental disability preventing him from filing a disability pension claim, and the evidence does not show he met any of the criteria for permanent and total disability under the liberalizing law.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable during the period from January 12, 2012 to August 9, 2012. The evidence showed some functional limitations but did not indicate he was incapable of performing light duty or sedentary employment.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and eye disability (including cataracts, glaucoma, and dry eye syndrome).,Service connection was also denied for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least likely as not that the Veteran's hypertension had its onset in service, was related to service exposure to herbicide agents, or is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease associated with diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and denied special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status (SMC) due to insufficient evidence linking the current right knee condition to service or service-connected conditions.