Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no in-service onset or continuity of symptoms within a presumptive period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for DM, hypertension, and a brain disorder that manifests as a stroke due to in-service exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's DM is not service-connected, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure or continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection was also denied for hypertension and a brain disorder secondary to DM because the Veteran's DM is not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back condition, diabetes mellitus, left eye condition, and congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy due to incomplete development.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from May 12, 2015 to April [REDACTED], 2018 due to his service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The issues of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, left arm numbness, and bilateral hearing loss are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus. However, the claims for other conditions including CTS, psychiatric disorders, DMII, arthritis, kidney disorder, peripheral neuropathy, eye disorder, foot disorder, skin rash, and ED were denied.

The Veteran's hepatitis claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hepatitis.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's personality disorder and low sex drive claims are withdrawn by the appellant.,The Veteran's balance issue claim is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim is remanded as VA records need to be obtained and a medical opinion provided regarding its onset and relationship to service.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature with his diabetes mellitus claim.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation) claim is withdrawn by the appellant.,The Veteran's narcolepsy claim is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's insomnia claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature with his back and left knee disability claims.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature with his acquired psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation) claim.,The Veteran's back disability claim is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's left knee disability claim is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, type II diabetes, diabetic neuropathy of the right foot, and diabetic neuropathy of the left foot. The conditions are presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for clarification on the causal link between the Veteran's service and his diabetes mellitus, specifically regarding when he began developing the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his combined rating is at least 70%.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy of the sciatic nerve is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus and a rating in excess of 30 percent for mild concentric left ventricular hypertrophy.

Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a lost sense of smell is granted.,Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy is granted.,The Veteran's hypertension and renal cell carcinoma are remanded for further review.,The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma may be related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's left eye disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if the VA procedure in July 2012 resulted in additional disability, and whether such disability was proximately caused by VA care.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability from May 4, 2017 to August 8, 2019. The case is remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral leg neuropathy due to potential verification issues regarding the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and joint pain, including as undiagnosed illnesses.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Type II Diabetes Mellitus is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand.