Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case as it is now moot due to his death.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disabilities of diabetes mellitus and osteomyelitis resulting from VA treatment in December 1982 and due to Methotrexate, respectively. The Board finds the medical opinions inadequate and remands the cases for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, sleep disorder (insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea), and cardiovascular disorder were denied. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for papillary thyroid carcinoma, status post thyroidectomy was denied prior to March 24, 2017. As of March 24, 2017, a rating of 60 percent has been granted.

The Veteran's service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus is granted due to exposure to Agent Orange during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibrocystic breasts and diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board found that there was no evidence of a worsening of pre-existing conditions during service or within one year after service, and thus did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims and rating appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, alcohol abuse, type II diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 30, 2012. The Board granted the TDIU for this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that there was no evidence showing he could not secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 11, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, caused his death. The Board has determined that the Veteran was in need of regular aid and attendance due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to herbicide agent exposure or other contaminants, including for diabetes mellitus, type II; hypothyroidism; hypertension; lumbar spine disorder; diabetic retinopathy; peripheral neuropathy; glaucoma; and residuals of a myocardial infarction.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) as there is no evidence that the Veteran filed a formal or informal claim for TDIU benefits prior to September 17, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain VA treatment records and for an addendum medical opinion regarding his sleep apnea. The TDIU claim will be considered again as part of the increased PTSD rating claim.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot neuropathy disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service and did not manifest during or within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment prior to October 18, 2019. The Board denied the TDIU claim on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not providing a VA examination for assessing the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, which impacts his ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed because the Veteran died before a decision could be made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him incapable of securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar on the left elbow. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to lack of evidence regarding in-service exposure and other procedural matters.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding a higher rating for diabetes mellitus and service connection for glaucoma as secondary to diabetes mellitus.