Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for kidney disease, to include cysts and stones, and diabetes mellitus due to outstanding medical questions regarding their relationship to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a skin disorder all related to in-service exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Claims for maculopathy, left eye; hepatic cysts; right knee degenerative arthritis; and left knee degenerative arthritis are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20 percent rating for right knee recurrent subluxation from November 7, 2018. The issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection, including those for Hepatitis C, PTSD, Right Knee Condition, Tuberculosis, Cervical Spine Disability, Thoracolumbar Spine Disability, and Diabetes due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, skin disorder, and fibromyalgia with chronic fatigue due to a lack of STRs from Fort McClellan.

The Board has denied service connection for chloracne and remanded the issues of PTSD rating, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted. The claims for increased disability rating for left knee, bilateral hip condition and neurocognitive disorder are remanded due to new evidence added to the record. Service connection for diastolic heart failure, hypertension, asthma, COPD and sleep apnea, as well as bilateral hearing loss and seizure disorder are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension has been remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding presumed exposure to herbicides during service.,The Veteran's claim for peripheral neuropathy, OSA, and peripheral artery disease secondary to diabetes mellitus type II has been remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,reasoning

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board has found that the current evidence does not support a higher rating, and thus denied an increased rating.,Service connection for hypertension was granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's lower back disorder was granted a 50 percent rating since December 21, 2020. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including neck condition, back disability, knee and ankle conditions, foot conditions, diabetic retinopathy, diverticulitis/constipation, uterine fibroids, dyschromia, and menopausal syndrome. The Veteran was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as the result of military sexual trauma (MST).

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was manageable by restricted diet prior to September 30, 2014.,From September 30, 2014, the Veteran required an oral hypoglycemic agent and a restricted diet but not regulation of activities for his diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction (ED), heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathies of the lower extremities due to herbicide exposure. The RO needs to verify if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Panama from January 1959 through April 1960.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective from the date of the decision, and service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus is restored. The issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms.,For service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, additional development is needed as remanded by the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistent opinions and a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.