Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The Veteran's heart conditions, diabetes mellitus type II, and lower extremity neuropathies are not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism caused or aggravated his type II diabetes mellitus, and if so, whether his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities also contributed to his obesity and diabetes.

The appeals for separate ratings for peripheral neuropathy and initial rating for diabetic nephropathy are dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and OSA due to conflicting opinions from previous examiners. The Veteran is also seeking TDIU which is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of his December 2015 rating decision, finding that his January 2017 Notice of Disagreement was untimely and not supported by good cause.

The Veteran's diabetes and hypertension are service-connected because they were caused by weight gain due to their service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, gout, renal failure, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction and proteinuria was granted a 40 percent disability rating from March 24, 2008 to January 11, 2013.,From January 12, 2013, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction and proteinuria was granted a 60 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (median nerve) was denied any increase in disability rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (median nerve) was denied any increase in disability rating.,A separate 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (radial nerve) was granted.,A separate 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (radial nerve) was granted.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) was denied any increase in disability rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) was denied any increase in disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to improper handling of his appeal in the legacy system.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from February 26, 2019. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to that date for referral to the Executive Director of Compensation Service for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including a new VA examination to differentiate symptoms of service-connected diabetic PVD from those associated with service-connected neuropathy.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to conflicting information from his employers and incomplete wage information. The Board will clarify the employer information and obtain updated earnings data.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated lower extremity neuropathies due to incomplete private treatment records. The VA is instructed to attempt to obtain these records from Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Joslin Diabetes Center, and any emergency medical services that treated the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and right lower extremity neuropathy were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for heart disability and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been granted. The exposure is presumed to be due to his in-service duties aboard the USS Ranger.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as the TDIU claim, are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher ratings for rhinitis, hypertensive heart disease, aerophagia, DMII, and sleep apnea have been dismissed. The claims of secondary service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including DJD, back disorder, diabetes mellitus DM, right eye disorder, GI disorder (gastritis), and skin disorder (rash on groin). The AOJ is instructed to complete the additional development directed in previous remands.