Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, which is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure at Ubon RTAFB, contributed substantially or materially to his death from aspiration pneumonia with respiratory failure and progressive tonsillar cancer. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are being remanded due to non-compliance with previous Board directives.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disability, diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The issues are related to exposure to hazardous materials while stationed at Fort McClellan.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, finding that the evidence did not warrant such a rating.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board has denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the medical opinion found that his condition was not related to service.,Service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity was also denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right elbow disability, skin disorder, diabetes, hepatitis C, and cholecystectomy residuals due to additional development of records and obtaining addendum opinions from different examiners.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral artery disease and entitlement to a total disability evaluation due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as they are inextricably intertwined. The VA needs to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's PAD is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including Type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected Parkinson's disease and diabetic neuropathy resulted in the functional loss of use of both hands and feet, necessitating higher levels of special monthly compensation (SMC) effective May 17, 2016.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.,Service connection for diabetes and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies is granted with an effective date of June 29, 2006. The Veteran also received a grant on DEA benefits with the same effective date.,The initial disability ratings for various conditions are being remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's type I diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,Prior to August 12, 2015, the Veteran's bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy with retinal bleed and pseudophakia was rated at 30 percent. From August 12, 2015, it has been rated at 40 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy with retinal bleed and pseudophakia is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, colon cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of coronary artery disease that began during active service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to October 22, 2020 was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran had some capacity for substantially gainful employment despite his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a new theory of entitlement presented by the Veteran's representative, suggesting that OSA is secondary to service-connected diabetes. The Board requests an addendum opinion from a sleep disorder specialist to address whether OSA is proximately caused or underwent any incremental increase in disability due to service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to September 5, 2018. The decision grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU prior to October 11, 2004.