Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to insufficient etiological opinions considering the Veteran's physical and psychological limitations from his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), eye disorders, shortness of breath, hypertension, kidney disorder, heart disorder, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, are all denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted prior to August 26, 2019 and from that date. The Veteran's OSA claim is remanded.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains in dispute.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings of right knee laxity and chondromalacia patella was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,A 40 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted, effective from December 6, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension/high blood pressure due to environmental hazards as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to hazardous environments.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection and TDIU due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. His service-connected back disability has been granted.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, but the Board has remanded for further clarification on whether diabetes contributed to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a brain tumor is remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether his pituitary microadenoma is related to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Board will consider this evidence and make a decision based on the new information.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating determinations due to an inability to obtain certain medical records from Saints Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or related to his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran did not meet the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during combat operations.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II and its secondary effects on peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are granted. The eye disability is also linked to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, stroke, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, hypertension, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder due to inadequate addendum opinions from a VA examiner.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gallbladder condition, hiatal hernia, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus. The rating for lumbar spine disability was also denied. However, a separate 10 percent rating was granted for right lumbar radiculopathy, and a 70 percent rating was granted for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease.,For the period prior to September 16, 2019, the Veteran’s coronary artery disease was rated at 30 percent and has been increased to 60 percent.,Starting from September 16, 2019, the Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent.,The Veteran's hypertension remains denied as there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or secondary service connection to PTSD or diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's GERD has been granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and dysthymic disorder, did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 10, 2010.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed due to their death.