Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not require regular aid and attendance from another person, nor did he meet the criteria for being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,Service connection for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety) are remanded due to inadequate examination findings and need further development.,The Veteran’s skin disabilities of the back and ears are remanded due to insufficient exposure basis documentation.,Service connection for a spine disability is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and extraschedular ratings, as these issues are inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim. The Veteran must provide detailed employment information and supporting documentation, and VA will obtain updated treatment records and addendum opinions regarding the relationship between his mood disorder and diabetes mellitus/sleep apnea.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of claims for effective dates earlier than January 29, 2018 for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal is REMANDED for further development on issues including low back disorder, diabetes mellitus type 2, psychiatric disorders, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of recent VA treatment records and a need for a thorough medical examination. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again after these are obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was granted. The claims for increased ratings for PTSD and diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as well as TDIU, are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The appeal regarding secondary service connection for various conditions is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of February 10, 2011.

The Veteran's lung disability claim is denied. For the period prior to November 26, 2019, a 50 percent rating for sinusitis with headaches is granted. From November 26, 2019 onwards, a higher rating for hypertension with diabetic nephropathy is denied. Service connection claims for back disability, hump on the neck, right ankle disability, hypothyroidism, and papilledema are all remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM II) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The VA examiner found that DM II was at least as likely as not aggravated by OSA.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to new evidence and symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension due to insufficient opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is related to service. The examiner must provide an opinion on the onset and relationship of diabetes to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted starting from December 4, 2019, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral glaucoma, bilateral loss of vision (including retinal detachment), hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension, but more evidence is needed for a final decision.