Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his service-connected left shoulder disability, lumbar spine arthritis, and hypertension have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has also been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, right ankle injury, hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, hypertension, narrowing of the esophagus, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral vision loss due to potential exposure to herbicides during service in Panama. The case is returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's conditions are related to his service-connected non-malignant thyroid nodules with hypothyroidism, but further development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection remain in remand status and require further examination and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets VA criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show regulation of activities or any other compensable criteria were met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II is based on in-service symptoms, while his PTSD claim requires verification of claimed stressors.

The Veteran's OSA was not incurred in service or aggravated by service, nor is it proximately due to, aggravated by, or the result of a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's DM was not incurred in service or aggravated by service, nor is it proximately due to, aggravated by, or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for diabetes mellitus, type II due to burn pit exposure because it is unclear whether the Veteran was exposed while aboard a ship in Vietnamese territorial waters. The RO must determine if the U.S.S. Dynamic was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during the relevant period and obtain any private treatment records from Dr. H.H.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II and erectile dysfunction have been granted. Diabetes mellitus type II is presumed due to herbicide exposure, while erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to the service-connected diabetes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus as secondary to hypertension, and heart condition as secondary to hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected chronic tonsilitis with pharyngitis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's nutritional deficiencies, hypertension secondary to these deficiencies, thyroid disability, DM secondary to a thyroid disability and zinc deficiency, fatty liver, and cardiovascular disability (including IHD and CAD) all related to his in-service exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted due to exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand. Service connection is also granted for the secondary condition of diabetes mellitus, type II, as it may be presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, right and left upper extremities are being remanded as the VA examiner's opinion is insufficient to adjudicate these claims. The addendum opinion must address whether the bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for diabetic retinopathy with focal laser treatment (previously rated as eye condition) is being remanded. The VA examiner must determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected diabetic retinopathy and whether any other related psychiatric disability, including PTSD, were incurred in or are related to his service.

The Veteran's service connection for DMII and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was granted effective March 9, 2018. The rating for DMII remains at 20%.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for thrombocythemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicides due to a lack of adequate etiological opinions.