Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for SMC based on aid and attendance, housebound status, and TDIU were denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for these benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from diabetes mellitus and its relationship to service, including presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The issues of service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are also remanded.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not meet the income requirements for survivor pension benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and skin conditions due to lack of VA examinations. The Veteran was unable or refused to undergo these examinations.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's condition did not clearly and unmistakably pre-exist his period of active duty. The disability was not shown to have been aggravated during service or to be otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus, cataract disability, and cystic disease of the kidneys due to incomplete unit history records and morning reports for confirmation of exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and its related peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities due to potential herbicide exposure during service. The case is sent back for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and granted service connection for headaches, including as secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to herbicide exposure, including for hypertrophic lichen planus, gout, lung disability, and diabetes mellitus type II. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee disability, heart disability (including congestive heart failure), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to outstanding VA treatment records and incomplete medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is dismissed. The Board has remanded multiple issues including service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus disorder, bilateral eye disorder, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), headache disorder, thyroid disorder, diabetes mellitus, respiratory disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The Veteran's hypertension appeal is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability prior to March 28, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus was granted a disability rating of 20 percent, and his erectile dysfunction was granted service connection on the basis that it is secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's diabetes and hypertension are granted as service connected due to military environmental exposure, with the presumption of exposure for diabetes. The hypertension is also linked to his now service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to difficulties in contacting him and obtaining necessary medical opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathies of both upper and lower extremities are all rated at their maximum allowable ratings.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease and diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicide agents during service, finding that the Veteran did not serve along the Korean DMZ in an eligible period or have evidence of herbicide exposure. The claims were also denied on a direct basis.

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

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's conditions, including prostate cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction (claimed as impotency), and total left knee replacement. The claims are being remanded for additional development.