Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to support the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including obtaining outstanding VA outpatient treatment records and verifying her in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran also needs a VA examination to address her current disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for a left shoulder disorder, diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity disorder (neuropathy), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The remand requests additional opinions on whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands, upper extremities, and lower extremities have been granted. The TDIU claim is remanded due to being inextricably intertwined with other pending claims.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, SMC based on need for aid and attendance, and SMC based on housebound status. The issues are inextricably intertwined due to the potential impact on the diabetes mellitus claim.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service. The Veteran's claims were based on alleged herbicide exposure in Okinawa, Japan, but the VA found no credible evidence supporting this claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and COPD due to exposure to herbicide agents. The decision also includes a request for additional medical evidence and an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's COPD and in-service exposures.

The Veteran's appeal for right knee disability is dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the issue. The Board has remanded several other issues including peripheral neuropathy, respiratory disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, skin disability (PFB), bilateral kidney disability, hearing loss, insomnia, depression, erectile dysfunction, and eye conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, right lower extremity and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II. The decision is based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand during the Vietnam Era.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, has not required restriction of activity and therefore does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is denied due to lack of credible evidence linking his mental health condition to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is denied because there is no current diagnosis and the medical records do not indicate an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is insufficient evidence of a current diagnosis and lack of credible evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's increased rating claim for diabetes mellitus remains at 20 percent, with the requirement of regulation of activities not met.,The Veteran's increased rating claim for diabetic retinopathy status post bilateral cataracts removal is remanded as there is no current visual field impairment data provided.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to determine the severity of the Veteran's asbestosis and etiology of his diabetes mellitus, bilateral shoulder disability, hypertension, and varicose veins.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, and TIA residuals due to new evidence showing worsening of his conditions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it raises a question of whether the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an initial increased rating for CAD and remanded the issues of entitlement to separate compensable ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, as well as the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for diabetic nephropathy.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple conditions, including ischemic heart disease and diabetes. The Board is remanding to determine if the Veteran's exposure to jet fuel during service may have contributed to his cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, which is related to his diabetes mellitus and PTSD, has been denied. The Board found no credible evidence linking the sleep apnea directly to service or secondary to any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation of his service-connected disabilities, specifically the upper extremities and lower extremities. The issues include seeking service connection for neuropathy in the upper extremities, as well as increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted. Service connection for renal dysfunction due to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted.,PTSD remains rated at 70 percent, effective July 8, 2011. The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded as additional evidence was received since the last SSOC.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, both of which are presumed to be related to in-service herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active duty or were otherwise linked to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to additional VA Medical Center records being obtained and not yet considered.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four different conditions have been dismissed due to his death.