Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claim due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right lower extremity paralysis and PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including his hearing loss disability, low back disability, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and associated neuropathy. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations to determine the current severity of his hearing loss, the nature and etiology of his low back disability, and the relationship between his sleep apnea and chemical exposure during service.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left eye injury due to VA cataract surgery in September 2011, finding that the Veteran's decreased visual acuity was not caused by the surgery but rather by his pre-existing Fuchs Dystrophy and diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension. The issues remain on appeal as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's left eye diabetic retinopathy is granted. The Board finds that an additional remand is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral eye disability, including right eye diabetic retinopathy and other eye disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and loss of use of a creative organ (erectile dysfunction) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including personal statements and articles regarding exposure to Agent Orange in Korea.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, eye disability, and psychiatric disability (depression). The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is not related to his service. His diabetes mellitus, type II, was not shown within one year of separation from service. His eye disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected condition. His depression is considered as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.,The Board also denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues, and will be reconsidered after adjudication of other service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disorder, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM), and a bilateral leg disorder. The denial is based on the absence of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence to support the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, but denied service connection for Diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for lower lumbar neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as an increased rating for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, has been dismissed. The Veteran was granted TDIU.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and cellulitis as secondary to service-connected diabetes due to their interrelated nature.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy was granted with effective dates of August 26, 2019. A rating of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus was also granted with an effective date of May 30, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, heart disorder, and diabetes mellitus type II with peripheral arterial disease, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effects of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange, as well as secondary service connection for hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, and lack of blood flow to the lower extremities. The Veteran's reported exposure in Guam is being verified, and a VA examination will be scheduled to determine the etiology of his diabetes and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated diabetic peripheral neuropathy are being remanded for further evaluation due to a lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment.,Financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only is denied as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, with erectile dysfunction and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no indication of regulation of activities by a physician.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no evidence of congestive heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction between 30 and 50 percent, or workload less than 3 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.