Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded both claims for diabetes mellitus and macular degeneration, as new VA clinical documentation was submitted. The Veteran requested a remand to consider the additional records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and no other basis for granting service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II, are rated as they currently manifest. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, arthritis, low back disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, peripheral neuropathy, right hand, left hand, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not establish a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current tinnitus, which was first noted decades after separation from service. The TDIU issue is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for pancreatitis pseudocysts and diabetes mellitus, both potentially related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The issues are held in abeyance due to their interrelated nature with the diabetes claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to issues regarding the Veteran's cause of death and service-connected burial benefits. The cause of death is related to COPD, DM II, and peripheral vascular disease. The issue of service connection for the cause of death remains under review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is a symptom of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied an increased rating for diabetes mellitus and remanded the TDIU claim. The decision is binding only with respect to the specific issues decided.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death was acute respiratory distress syndrome due to, or as a consequence of, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; pneumonia; and multiple organ failure. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death, but the VA examiner found no causal relationship between his service-connected conditions and his death. She also presented an alternative theory that his death was due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board has ordered additional records from SSA and Integris Baptist Medical Center.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus type II effective June 22, 2021. The appellant's disability picture does not warrant a higher rating prior to that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected DMII and lumbosacral strain, with arthritis and osteoporosis. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right elbow residuals of a shrapnel wound are granted at 50% for the period beginning on January 6, 2020. Diabetes mellitus type II and nerve conditions are also granted with specific ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and associated complications caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused his non-service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as his condition did not require regulation of activities. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his ability to perform substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and diabetes mellitus, type II (DM II) have been granted.,Service connection is established for IHD and DM II based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and arteriosclerotic heart disease as due to herbicide exposure based on the Veteran's nautical service in offshore eligible waters. The claims are now considered substantiated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension have been dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.