Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's obesity, which is linked to his service-connected diabetes and PTSD, was a substantial factor in causing his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a stay regarding naval service and presumed herbicide exposure. The issues of service connection for DM and CV disorder are impacted by the Federal Circuit's decision in Procopio v. Wilkie, which expanded the definition of 'service in the Republic of Vietnam' to include the territorial sea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The Veteran testified that his health conditions caused his depression and anxiety.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is granted. The claims of service connection for non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL), diabetes mellitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, joint and muscle pain, cardiovascular disorder, fatigue and sleep disturbances, multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) is remanded. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, joint and muscle pain, cardiovascular disorder, fatigue and sleep disturbances, multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded. The claims of service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy, joint and muscle pain, cardiovascular disorder, fatigue and sleep disturbances, multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy is remanded. The claims of service connection for joint and muscle pain, cardiovascular disorder, fatigue and sleep disturbances, multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint and muscle pain is remanded. The claims of service connection for cardiovascular disorder, fatigue and sleep disturbances, multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for cardiovascular disorder is remanded. The claims of service connection for fatigue and sleep disturbances, multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for fatigue and sleep disturbances is remanded. The claims of service connection for multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages, neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple cerebral micro-hemorrhages is remanded. The claims of service connection for neuropsychological disorder, bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neuropsychological disorder is remanded. The claims of service connection for bilateral cataracts, and sleep apnea are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral cataracts is remanded. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his in-service symptoms and current disabilities.

The Board has found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are not service connected. The claims for ulcers and edema have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to January 21, 2020 and at 50 percent since then.,Service connection for hypertension was denied as it is not shown to be related to the service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus was denied due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship with the Veteran's service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, including as secondary to type II diabetes, was denied because there is no evidence linking these conditions directly to the Veteran's service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted due to its onset during service.

The Board has denied service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claims for other disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, loss of use of creative organ, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and TDIU. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to April 5, 2011 due to his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus resulting in unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and migraine headaches due to potential issues with the addendum opinions provided.

The Veteran's appeals regarding his disability ratings for prostate cancer residuals, type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, and a scar were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including DM II and mild concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. The issues include seeking higher ratings for these conditions, determining if sleep apnea is secondary to a service-connected condition, evaluating TDIU eligibility, and assessing need for SMC on aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, specifically regarding internal deformity of the penis. The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for organic impotence (erectile dysfunction) associated with type II diabetes mellitus is now pending and requires further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in determining whether the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam's shoreline during the Veteran's service, which could affect his eligibility for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to March 20, 2012 was considered part and parcel of his increased rating for neuropathy. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any one of his service-connected disabilities alone renders him unemployable prior to March 20, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and cardiac arrhythmia and/or supraventricular tachycardia due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and depression.