Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Veteran's heart disorder, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are not service-connected.,Service connection for a heart disorder is denied as there is no evidence of any heart problems during service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's current heart condition is attributed to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and diabetes mellitus type 2 due to additional medical inquiry into the claims.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with the claim for diabetes mellitus. Therefore, all issues related to heart condition, right and left leg deep vein thrombosis, lung condition, right ankle condition, face numbness, and depression secondary to diabetes mellitus must be remanded as well.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration of all evidence submitted since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and for reopening his claims for service connection for neurological disorders of the left upper and lower extremities. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and a sleep condition due to an incomplete SOC.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for diabetes mellitus and heart condition. The remaining issues of hearing loss, left foot numbness, right foot numbness, and hypertension have been remanded due to new evidence and need further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, sleep apnea, diabetes, and hypertension are being remanded due to incomplete STRs and SPRs. Additional requests for these records are needed, as well as formal determinations regarding the likely level of exposure to asbestos and other environmental hazards during service. The Veteran should also be provided with VA examinations for his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from October 30, 2008 to March 1, 2010. The Board finds the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions alone preclude substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal of his evaluation for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction was dismissed because he withdrew the appeal via an Appeals Satisfaction Notice.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain medical records from a federal prison where the Veteran was incarcerated. The records are needed to determine if he had exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and if this contributed to his diabetes mellitus and kidney disease.

The Veteran's diabetes with ED requires one or more daily injections of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities. The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for type II diabetes mellitus with ED.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to February 3, 2021.,As of February 3, 2021, the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is moot due to his 100% schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for a compensable evaluation for service-connected fracture of the fifth digit of the right hand, as well as service connection for residuals of metacarpal fracture of the fourth digit of the right hand, nerve damage of the right wrist secondary to service-connected fractures, hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2 secondary to service-connected fractures. The claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence from a previous examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The right knee disability rating is remanded, as are the claims for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety, depression, psychosis, and PTSD) have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded for a medical opinion regarding whether his service-connected conditions (CAD, hypertension, and/or sleep apnea) caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused his diabetes mellitus, type II. The issues of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and testicular hypofunction are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the diabetes mellitus, type II issue.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.