Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no service connection issues were addressed.

The Board denied service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating prior to September 18, 2009 and therefore denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and its associated upper extremity neuropathies due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding aggravation by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, but the issues of hypertension and kidney disability are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. The neurological disabilities remain in dispute.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of proper research into whether the Veteran served in Vietnam, which is required by previous remand orders. The claims will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU since July 7, 2014 due to his service-connected disabilities. Prior to this date, he was not found unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for vertigo, PTSD, and diabetes were previously denied. New evidence was submitted that relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims. The claim of service connection for PTSD is reopened due to new evidence, while the claims for vertigo and diabetes remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including CAD, DM, PN of the lower extremities, and ED, do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The appeal is denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for diabetes mellitus, type II, kidney failure, right and left foot and toes amputations, and hypertension as they are all related to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided some issues in favor of the Veteran, while others have been remanded for further action. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are mixed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have all been granted. The effective dates are not specified as they were granted upon receipt of the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, left ankle disability, disabilities of the eye, and erectile dysfunction due to additional development being required.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, coronary artery disease, and residuals of a cerebrovascular accident due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type 2 and PTSD due to potential in-service exposure, but requires additional evidence such as morning reports and pay records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathy have been rated as 20 percent disabling since September 28, 2016. Separate ratings of 10 percent each for the left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were granted from May 11, 2016 to September 27, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the severity and frequency of the Veteran's episodes of diarrhea. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity for a VA examination to assess his gastrointestinal issues, as well as reexaminations for his service-connected diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the aggravation of hypertension by diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular accident residuals due to diabetes mellitus and hypertension, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, PTSD, and erectile dysfunction is granted. The claims for service connection for onychomycosis are remanded. The rating for diabetes mellitus is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, to include as secondary to in-service herbicide exposure. The AOJ must determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides based on his nautical service in the offshore eligible waters of the Republic of Vietnam.