Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left eye diabetic retinopathy is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and if so, whether it was aggravated by his cataracts.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for new VA examinations. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is being evaluated under direct service connection theory.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes, bleeding of the eyes, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and psoriasis due to unclear exposure history and pending development. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded as they may be related to his active duty service.

Your appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's headaches are found to have begun during service and continue today, granting service connection.,Service connection for a right knee disability was granted in July 2022, thus dismissing the appeal on this issue.,While hypertension is currently present, there is no evidence it began during service or is related to an in-service injury or disease. The claim is denied.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy are found to be at least as likely as not related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.,Service connection for a bilateral eye condition secondary to diabetes mellitus is granted.,A right-hand disability is found to have begun during service, granting service connection.,Obstructive sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during service and is related to snoring issues that began in service. Service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a lower gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), sinusitis with rhinitis, type II diabetes mellitus, and low back disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active duty or National Guard service.,Service connection was also denied for right and left knee disorders due to lack of evidence linking the current conditions to service.

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

The Board has granted a TDIU and established basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance Benefits based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted the restoration of service connection for diabetes with diabetic nephropathy, CAD, and a scar associated with CAD based on the PACT Act. The effective date is October 1, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected asthma and his diabetes mellitus, type 2. The Veteran is also denied direct service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2; a back and/or cervical spine disorder; hypertension (all claimed as secondary to service-connected disabilities); and a right knee disorder. The reasons given were that there was no evidence showing these conditions began during or were aggravated by service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to May 31, 2011 due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities not being sufficient to render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds the evidence at least in equipoise that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and stroke residuals are granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's now service-connected CAD causing his stroke residuals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional clinical documentation from St. Mary's Hospital.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, including PTSD, CAD, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined disability rating of at least 80 percent.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the issues on appeal, and thus these claims are being returned to the RO for further development.