Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is found to have aggravated his diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board also finds that the Veteran's diabetic retinopathy and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are caused by his now service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's pituitary adenoma, diabetes insipidus, headaches, bilateral dry eye syndrome, and heteronymous bilateral field defect temporal have been granted service connection as due to herbicide exposure.,An effective date prior to June 6, 2018, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, finding that it was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA, as it is unclear whether this condition is proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of November 13, 2002 for the grant of TDIU and DEA under Chapter 35 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and shell fragment wound of the right deltoid muscle, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to November 27, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected diabetes and/or PTSD, as well as whether it is aggravated by these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and posterior facet joint arthropathy are granted as service-connected. The right ankle, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, right shoulder disability (other than right upper extremity radiculopathy), left shoulder disability (other than left upper extremity radiculopathy and residuals of stab wound), respiratory disability (to include asbestosis), and hemorrhoids are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of February 28, 2015 for his TDIU and DEA eligibility. The Board found the Veteran unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities from that date.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and ischemic heart disease, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction residuals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate, heart, diabetes mellitus, COPD, and bilateral eye disabilities due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection. The VA is required to obtain new medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for various peripheral neuropathy conditions and diabetes mellitus, type II as the appellant's representative requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bowel dysfunction is caused or aggravated by his service-connected DMII and/or prostate cancer.

The Board has decided to remand four claims for service connection due to the need for additional development regarding herbicide agent exposure and VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence, including a VA male reproductive examination addressing his erectile dysfunction and prostate claims; a June 2018 VA examination addressing his heart disability; and VA medical records associated in June 2018 which include treatment and diagnosis of his claimed skin disability, diabetic foot examinations, diabetic neuropathy diagnoses, and diabetes mellitus treatment and diagnosis. The Board also notes the Veteran's alleged herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve) prior to December 7, 2020, a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve) from December 7, 2020, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve) prior to December 7, 2020, a rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve) from December 7, 2020, a compensable initial rating for erectile dysfunction, a compensable initial rating for bilateral diabetic retinopathy prior to February 5, 2021, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral diabetic retinopathy from February 5, 2021.,The Veteran also withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior to December 7, 2020 and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) prior to December 7, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, and type II diabetes mellitus on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and Parkinson's disease are granted as presumptively incurred due to herbicide exposure during service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection is denied for malignant fibrous histiocytoma, as there were no records found.