Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, type II before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus and osteomyelitis are denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to VA care or treatment.

The Veteran's initial rating for diabetic retinopathy with cataracts has been granted at a 20 percent level. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU has also been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee condition, based on limited flexion. The remand is necessary due to inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right knee condition and the severity of his service-connected left knee conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for DM and pancreatitis. The petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a back condition was granted, as were those for peripheral neuropathy of the RLE and LLE.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted service connection as presumed due to herbicide exposure, while his bilateral knee arthritis is denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, and therefore a TDIU is denied.

The Board has granted restoration of service connection for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Right and Left Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) due to herbicide agent exposure at Udorn RTAFB.

The Board dismissed the appeals as the Veteran had died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and various cold injury residuals are denied. The claim for chronic obstructive airway disease is also denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Issues related to bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and Type II diabetes mellitus are granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his time in Thailand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is denied. Separate 10 percent ratings are granted for the external popliteal nerves of both legs.,A TDIU claim is remanded as part of this decision.

The Board has remanded the cases for further consideration due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents during service in Guam.

The Veteran's kidney condition, associated with diabetes mellitus type 1 and mild diabetic retinopathy, was initially rated at 30 percent in April 2014 and increased to 80 percent in December 2016. The appellant is seeking a higher initial rating for the kidney condition. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a retrospective medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, mild neurocognitive disorder, sleep apnea with asthma, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, neck injury, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, rendered him unemployable for the period from September 8, 2018 to November 25, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU based on this evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, heart condition, and vertigo as secondary to service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity, both secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, was denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, gout, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, a skin condition (including seborrheic keratosis), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction.,There was no presumption of herbicide agent exposure due to the Veteran's service in Korea.