Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, residuals of benign tongue growth removal, elevated creatinine kinase, bilateral hearing loss, umbilical hernia, and erectile dysfunction are all granted service connection. The rating for the bilateral hearing loss is increased to 10 percent.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for depressive disorder NOS with compulsive disorder is granted, subject to controlling regulations governing the payment of monetary awards. The issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion and potential outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,Before January 29, 2016, the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities did not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating. After this date, it did not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to missing VA treatment records. Service connection is not granted for gout or diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease due to exposure to herbicides. The VA failed to research the Veteran's exposure during his service at Udorn RTAFB from March 11, 1975 to January 10, 1976.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and TDIU have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to January 25, 2016. The primary reason was that there is no medical evidence showing that the seizures were proximately due or aggravated by his diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 13, 2009.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetic nephropathy, DDD of the lumbar spine and lumbar spondylosis with radiculopathy, posterior tibialis tenosynovitis of the right ankle, and arthritis of the right knee have been granted. The kidney condition is secondary to hypertension.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for Parkinson's disease (now characterized as essential tremor), diabetes mellitus, and other disabilities. The appeal is being returned to the RO for further review of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and readjudication of his claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for peripheral vascular disease, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, diabetes mellitus, and total disability due to individual unemployability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his military service records.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer and diabetes mellitus type II, finding no evidence of radiation exposure during service and insufficient medical opinion to link the conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to chemicals, including herbicides, as the Veteran's conditions are not clearly related to his military service. Additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's exposure and obtain medical opinions regarding the nature of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus (flatfoot) and diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The Board will seek to obtain all relevant medical records, including those from Womack Army Medical Center, and request an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's flatfoot disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for diabetes mellitus, type II due to a need for additional development and an addendum opinion regarding service connection on a secondary basis with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents, as new evidence supports reopening of these previously denied claims.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cancer, both presumed due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of either condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, left foot and right foot peripheral neuropathy, bilateral knee peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. The RO is instructed to obtain deck logs from ships involved in the Veteran's service and confirm his presence at sea off the coast of Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cataracts and dry eyes, and other conditions, are found to be of sufficient severity to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the period prior to September 17, 2018.