Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has ordered the claims to be remanded for further development and readjudication. The issues include initial ratings, effective dates, and TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, with the condition presumed due to combat exposure in Vietnam.,Service connection for pulmonary fibrosis is granted based on herbicide agent exposure during service. The Veteran also has hypertension and left knee disability that are remanded for further review.,Diabetes mellitus, Type II, is granted as service-connected based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's left leg fracture is not considered secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver is not considered secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are granted. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder degenerative joint disease is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Morton's neuroma of the right foot has been denied as the current rating adequately reflects his disability.,A compensable rating is granted for the painful scar on the right hand, with no greater than 10 percent assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for type two diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy are granted. However, due to the need for further development regarding the issues of hypertension and peripheral neuropathy, these cases are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and his bilateral foot disabilities due to insufficient development of records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted since June 20, 2005 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, both determined to be due to herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction are denied.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate due to service-connected DM and resulting residuals from a common etiology are granted, effective March 10, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for CAD, diabetes mellitus, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy and right lower extremity neuropathy due to exposure to Agent Orange during service in Korea.,The Veteran's testimony at a Board hearing and lay statements indicate he was exposed to commercial herbicides used for clearing foliage around the perimeter of his base in Korea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was reopened and granted, with the Board finding that his symptoms are related to his military service. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus type II associated with herbicide exposure.,Service connection for both conditions is established based on presumptive exposure to herbicides during active duty.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for TDIU and his service-connected disabilities are so severe as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were not granted. The Board found new and relevant evidence was not received to readjudicate the claims of acquired psychological disorder, sleep apnea, or esophageal reflux. However, the Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), and hypertension have been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and headaches due to potential errors in the duty to assist. The cervical spine disability claim remains denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence showing severe complications or frequent hospitalizations.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are both rated at 20 percent. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and bilateral hearing loss. The claim of service connection for a 'neurological issues' was recharacterized as Parkinson's disease and granted.