Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiovascular disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and a skin disorder due to lack of medical evidence and proper notice regarding his claimed asbestos exposure. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for all issues related to diabetic neuropathy of the face and mouth involving different cranial nerves, as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his military service. The case will be reviewed again with a focus on verifying if the Veteran was part of an Air Force squadron permanently assigned to C-123 aircraft, which could support his claim.

The Veteran's CAD is rated at 60 percent since March 18, 2013. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.,DMII is currently rated at 20 percent and the criteria for a higher rating are not met.,Bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve is rated at 20 percent since November 18, 2014. The claim for higher ratings remains denied.,Bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve is rated at 20 percent since November 18, 2014. The claim for higher ratings remains denied.,The effective date for service connection for CAD has been set to March 18, 2013.,The effective date for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve has been set to November 18, 2014.,The effective date for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve has been set to November 18, 2014.

The Veteran is granted total disability due to individual unemployability from November 26, 2019.,Obstructive sleep apnea was not found to be secondary to service-connected conditions and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and type II diabetes mellitus (DM II) on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's service in Korea.

The claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and bilateral lower extremity nerve disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetic neuropathies, and retinopathy, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU from March 29, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, amputation of right index finger, fracture of left wrist, diabetes mellitus, carpal tunnel of left wrist, and carpal tunnel of right wrist. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 has been dismissed. The issues of a higher rating for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, as well as TDIU prior to January 12, 2019, are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for type II diabetes mellitus is denied as there was no in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and the evidence does not show chronicity or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of all extremities, and congestive heart failure, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension (secondary to coronary artery disease), shortness of breath (secondary to coronary artery disease), valvular heart disease (secondary to coronary artery disease), and cardiac dysrhythmia (secondary to coronary artery disease) are all granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents at U-Tapao base in Thailand, which is considered presumptive for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's SMC (r)(2) benefits for need of aid and attendance are granted, effective March 31, 2015. The RO failed to apply the correct rate due to a LCR error in applying asbestosis and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board also remanded the issues of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity varicose veins, left lower extremity varicose veins, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claims for basal cell carcinoma, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), cardiac impairment, pulmonary disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, cataracts, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his coronary artery disease, migraine headaches, and diabetes mellitus type II have been dismissed as moot due to the submission of a timely NOD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person to perform personal care functions of everyday living or to protect him from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment, leading to a grant of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's diabetes does not require regulation of activities.,PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 50% rating.

The Board has decided to reduce the Veteran's diabetes rating from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective April 1, 2016. The Veteran appealed this decision and it was remanded due to concerns about the reliability of the VA opinions used in the original decision.