Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and related peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been granted increased ratings, while his erectile dysfunction has been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on various conditions were denied. The claim for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was granted with an effective date of August 21, 2016.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is being remanded for additional development, including consideration of flare-ups and functional impairment.,The Veteran's bladder disorder with voiding dysfunction is being remanded to determine if it is related to service or a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is being remanded to determine if it is related to service or a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and bilateral neuropathy of the hands and feet are being remanded to determine if they are related to service or a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's vision disorder is being remanded to determine if it is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease have been granted. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to new evidence indicating a possible link with herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's lung cancer residuals are rated at a compensable level of 30 percent from March 18, 2019 to November 14, 2019 and at a higher level thereafter.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 60 percent since August 2019. The RO found that the most accurate measure was FEV-1/FVC of 101%.,The Veteran's diabetes is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet his claim for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes, Parkinson's Disease and parkinsonism, ischemic heart disease (including CAD and angina), bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, cirrhosis, macular degeneration, vitiligo, and a heart disability, other than ischemic heart disease have all been granted.,SMC based on the need for aid and attendance has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus and bilateral knee disability due to additional development being required, including consideration of secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as due to herbicide agent exposure during the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records, specifically missing eye treatment and visual field testing results from VistA system. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts is now pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities and their relationship to his current conditions. The VA will obtain updated treatment records, including from September 2021 onwards, and provide a new opinion on whether these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of SMC based on this need. However, higher levels of SMC are available under the law, which requires remand for further adjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy have been granted increased ratings of 60 percent each. Service connection for an upper back condition has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment from October 20, 2004, to April 7, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during service and that his conditions are not related to service.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including a psychiatric disability and diabetes mellitus. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, with diabetic retinopathy, hypertension and erectile dysfunction is remanded for further development. The issue of individual unemployability prior to May 24, 2016 is also remanded.

The Veteran's onychomycosis is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. His chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus are not rated higher than the current levels, but he is granted SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's SLE is granted as related to his in-service exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Board affords great probative weight to the opinions of Dr. J.S-M. and Dr. S.B.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and Barrett's disease are remanded due to the Veteran's in-service exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer are granted as service connected due to herbicide agent exposure.,The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (LLE) and right lower extremity (RLE) are also granted as service connected secondary to his diabetes mellitus type II.