Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his vision impairment and diabetes, render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from August 30, 2016. The case is remanded for consideration of a TDIU prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, arthritis (other than of the back or neck), a neck disability, a low back disability, and a psychiatric disability due to incomplete development and potential errors in medical opinions. The claims will be further developed to include verification of qualifying service periods and comprehensive examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The combined rating of all conditions does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, heart condition, and PTSD have been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to herbicides and contaminated water during service.

The Board denied a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that the Veteran's condition required only a restricted diet and oral hypoglycemic agent, but not regulation of activities. The evidence did not support a 40 percent rating as required by the criteria in effect from December 10, 2017.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange and that the Veteran's conditions did not have their onset or manifest within one year of discharge. The Board also found that the Veteran's conditions were not otherwise causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as probable congestive heart failure, heart disease and diabetes. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during service, thus denying service connection for cause of death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations, requiring further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ocular disabilities, other than diabetic retinopathy and left eye palsy, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus and residuals of a pilonidal cyst, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, skin disability other than a pilonidal cyst, and back disability.,Service connection was established for tinnitus due to exposure to noise during service. Residuals of the pilonidal cyst were also granted as it had its onset during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation between May 20, 2009 and April 2, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his service-connected conditions contributed to his diabetes and acute coronary insufficiency.

The Board has remanded both the service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the spine and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence in the VA medical opinions. The Veteran's back disability is suspected to have pre-existed service, but a new examination is needed to clarify this issue. For his diabetes claim, a VA examination is required to determine if it had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of GERD with hiatal hernia, service connection for diabetes mellitus, and hypertension have been remanded due to inadequate development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his psychiatric condition, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral eye disability, bilateral knee condition, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment from December 24, 2014, to March 21, 2021. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

Service connection is granted for hepatitis C. Service connection is denied for diabetes, migraine headaches, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, and right leg disability.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any diagnosis or treatment of the claimed conditions within one year after separation from service. The Board finds that these claims are not supported by competent evidence.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the cause of death and service connection for various conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding secondary aggravation of diabetes mellitus, type II by service-connected hypertension and/or obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to concerns about the comprehensive assessment of the Veteran's service-connected conditions and their impact on his ability to work. Additional examinations are needed to evaluate these factors.