Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for bilateral eye disability as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including type two diabetes mellitus, PTSD and coronary artery disease. The remand requires a new VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral eye disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left wrist fracture residuals, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a current disability or chronic symptoms during service.

The Board has granted reopening of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and glaucoma. The appeals to reopen these conditions are granted. Service connection is remanded for all three issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, with peripheral neuropathy; hypertension; and coronary artery disease (CAD), to include as secondary to hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity was denied, and his claim for service connection for DVT of the right lower extremity, which he contends is related to his diabetes (presumed due to Agent Orange exposure), was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, and hypertension. Service connection for ischemic attacks is also granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, and hypertension. Service connection for ischemic attacks is also granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and also denied his claim for accrued benefits. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's hepatitis C, diabetes, or any other conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and its associated neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities, finding that there was no in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other causative factors.

The Board has determined that the reduction in rating for diabetes mellitus type II was improper and restored the original 40 percent rating. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and diabetic retinopathy are remanded due to outstanding records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and sleep apnea, are granted. A 60 percent evaluation is assigned for his thoracolumbar back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus (due to herbicide exposure), and acquired psychiatric disorder was granted. The claim for gout was denied as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's stroke, finding that it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) during the specified rating periods. There is no evidence of inability to perform sedentary employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that there was no evidence of unemployability prior to April 24, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disability, circulatory disorder, eye disorder, erectile dysfunction, upper and lower neuropathy, urinary incontinence, liver disorder, and hernia disorder have all been denied as they are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the issues of specially adapted housing, special home adaptation grant, and prostate cancer rating as they are related to the SMC claim. The issue of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete records and verification of military service. The Veteran's hypertension and lumbar spine disorder are also being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and PTSD have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.