Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during service and thus could not establish presumptive service connection. The evidence also showed no chronicity of symptoms in service or continuity since separation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and left ear hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that his hearing loss began during service or was related to in-service noise exposure, and he failed to meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to concerns about weight gain and obesity, which may be related to service-connected conditions such as diabetes mellitus, CAD, back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, or anxiety disorder NOS with unspecified psychotic disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for pulmonary disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient examination reports and opinions. The claims will be reviewed again with additional development including examinations and opinions on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected disabilities and inability to secure or maintain employment prior to January 21, 2009.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral lower hernia, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, skeletal arthritis, sinus disorder, COPD, headaches, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, bilateral eye disorder, erectile dysfunction, or asbestosis. The Board has also found that the Veteran's service connection claims for these conditions are remanded due to outstanding in-service medical records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's initial rating for CAD in excess of 60 percent prior to July 21, 2011, and in excess of 30 percent from July 21, 2011, to September 10, 2018, is denied. The remaining issues related to eligibility for specially adapted housing, SMC based on loss of use of the legs, and financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment are also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensably disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating for this condition.,The Veteran asserts service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure. However, the AOJ has not attempted to verify his claimed herbicide exposure and thus remand is necessary to attempt verification of such exposure.,The Veteran asserts service connection for bilateral upper neuropathy, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, herbicide exposure, and/or a lightning strike in service. Remand is necessary to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.,The Veteran asserts service connection for bilateral lower neuropathy, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, herbicide exposure, and/or a lightning strike in service. Remand is necessary to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.,The Veteran asserts service connection for a stomach disability. The AOJ has not provided an opinion on this issue and thus remand is necessary.,The Veteran asserts service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability. Remand is necessary to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.,The Veteran asserts service connection for a sleep disability (claimed as sleep apnea), to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability. Remand is necessary to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus was dismissed because he withdrew his appeal in May 2020.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for left ring finger fracture with hand arthritis is granted. The Veteran's initial rating higher than 10 percent for left LCL sprain with residual fibula fracture, bilateral hearing loss, unspecified anxiety disorder, and fatigue are denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD and low back disability, as well as the reopening of previously denied claims for type II diabetes mellitus (DM2), Lyme disease, and hypertension, are being remanded due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's appeals for glaucoma and gestational diabetes have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and neuropathy of the bilateral feet as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Veteran was presumed exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (DM2) as the evidence did not show it had onset in active service or was otherwise causally connected to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity were denied because he failed to appear for VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, depression, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II and granted this claim.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and a right knee disability, renders him unemployable due to significant symptoms that preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and myocardial infarction as due to hypertension. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded.,Service connection for COPD was denied because there is no evidence of a current disability. Service connection for myocardial infarction was denied based on the VA examiner's opinion that it was not proximately caused by service-connected hypertension.