Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the issue of whether severance of service connection for stage 2 mild renal insufficiency was proper due to an inadequate VA medical opinion. The Veteran's claims file will be sent to a VA physician to provide an additional opinion regarding the cause and aggravation of his renal insufficiency by diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's migraine disability is granted as secondary to her service-connected visual disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), diabetes mellitus, type 2 (diabetes), hypertension, and breast cancer are all remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension as the evidence did not show these conditions were caused by or incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as due to herbicide exposure, has been reopened and granted. The Board found the Veteran was presumptively exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 3, 2014 for SMC at the R-1 and R-2 rates was denied.,An earlier effective date of September 27, 2007 for SMC based on loss of use of both feet under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) is granted.

The Veteran's left fifth toe disability was rated as noncompensable prior to August 28, 2020. From that date onward, he is entitled to a rating of at most 10 percent for this condition.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus and memory loss were denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II to include as secondary to a service-connected disability due to incomplete records. The Veteran's claim for alcoholism is no longer before the Board.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is granted as service connected. The Board remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent lumbosacral spine disability, recurrent right shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of adequate medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic neuropathy of both upper extremities and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The denial is based on a lack of current disability due to the absence of objective evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cardiological disability other than hypertension, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disability, stomach disability, eye disability, kidney disability, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and arthritis. The Veteran is advised to provide updated medical records and attend a new hearing if desired.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the current condition is not related to active service and that there was no medical evidence supporting a link between the Veteran's in-service activities and his diagnosed diabetes.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome due to outstanding VA records not having been considered in prior decisions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it relates to a period before September 25, 2009.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for gastrointestinal disability, pancreatitis, and diabetes mellitus due to a gastrointestinal disability. Additional development is needed.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and right eye mild non proliferative diabetic retinopathy is rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the disability picture does not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity associated with type II diabetes mellitus is rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the disability picture does not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity associated with type II diabetes mellitus is rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the disability picture does not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity associated with type II diabetes mellitus is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the disability picture does not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity associated with type II diabetes mellitus is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the disability picture does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's eye conditions are aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected pension benefits for the period prior to September 15, 2019 were denied due to his not being permanently and totally disabled from nonservice-connected disabilities.,For the period after September 15, 2019, the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) for a Veteran with no dependents.

Service connection for psoriasis, diabetes mellitus, psoriatic arthritis (secondary to service-connected psoriasis), diabetic retinopathy (secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus), and erectile dysfunction is granted.,The issue of service connection for skin cancer remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for calcaneal spur, left foot and ankle; disabilities of the feet to include plantar fasciitis and bilateral pes planus; diabetes mellitus, Type II; TBI; and psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The issues are related to service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including heart condition, diabetes, and back condition. The Veteran's service records need to be verified, as well as her exposure to herbicide agents during service.