Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes has been dismissed. The claim for a higher rating for asthma was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but the claim for diabetes mellitus is remanded due to lack of verification of a duty station stop in Vietnam and need for an opinion on whether DM was caused or aggravated by sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and a new theory of service connection based on exposure to radiation in service. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining an addendum opinion.

The Veteran’s diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the right hand with early Dupuytren's contracture, and neuropathy of the left hand with early Dupuytren's contracture are all rated at their maximum levels. The Board finds that none of these conditions warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise, and therefore grants service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B and diabetes mellitus, type II. The evidence did not support a current disability or link to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II, is presumptively related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease have been rated based on their respective disabilities. The initial ratings for these conditions are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to potential herbicide exposure in Korea. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's reported service along the DMZ, obtain a request from JSRRC for verification of exposure to herbicides, and provide an opinion on whether contact with commercial or designated herbicide agents caused the Veteran's diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's hypertension, diabetes mellitus, PTSD and MDD, erectile dysfunction, right knee disability, and residuals of a head injury (headaches, epilepsy, seizures) have been granted service connection.,However, the Veteran’s claim for service connection for a right knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking his current condition to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and diabetic neuropathy have been granted. The Veteran's claim for gout has been remanded. His claims for hypertension, memory loss, and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of diabetes mellitus type II with voiding dysfunction remains pending and requires further examination or opinion to determine if he meets the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and PTSD, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide agent exposure. The remand is based on incomplete records from the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC).

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet, and ischemic heart disease were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected eye disability, bilateral nuclear sclerotic and cortical cataracts, was denied an initial compensable extra-schedular evaluation. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his other service-connected disabilities.

The claim for service connection of various conditions, including low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, restless leg syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, hypothalamus disability, and others is granted. However, the rating for a thoracic spine disorder remains remanded, as does the claims for sleep disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, type II diabetes (DM), and bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to potential PCB exposure at Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama. The VA examiner's opinion is inadequate as it did not address the specific contentions of the Veteran regarding her PCB exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus secondary to herbicide exposure are denied as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure during service, and the conditions are not related to active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple issues are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and opinions.

The Board has vacated multiple decisions related to various service connection claims, including those for coronary artery disease, a scar, and peripheral neuropathy. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, glaucoma, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, skin rash, and peripheral neuropathy have been remanded.