Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and congestive heart failure due to obesity being an intermediate step between a service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The Board denied a rating higher than 40 percent.,The Veteran's sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are both currently rated at 60 percent, but no higher. The Board granted these ratings.,The Veteran's femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, while his left lower extremity is rated at 30 percent. The Board denied a rating higher than 30 percent for the left lower extremity and granted this rating for the right lower extremity.,The Veteran's femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Board denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection, as the evidence is in equipoise regarding its relationship to his active duty service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to a lack of audiometric testing meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA dental treatment from April 25, 2013 to August 1, 2013 was denied as the treatment was not pre-authorized by VA and did not meet the criteria for a medical emergency.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and has continued since then.,Diabetes mellitus is remanded for additional examination and review of private treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 as the Veteran's condition did not originate in service or until years after service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diabetes, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's COPD is denied as it is not related to service, including asbestos exposure.,The Veteran's hypertension is denied as it is not secondary to PTSD or COPD.,The Veteran's diabetes is denied as it is not due to herbicide exposure and is not secondary to hypertension or COPD.,The Veteran's heart condition is denied as it is not related to service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied as it is not related to service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is denied as it is not related to service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's vision problems are denied as they are not related to diabetes or COPD.,The Veteran's stomach condition is denied as it is not related to diabetes or COPD.,The Veteran's nerve problems are denied as they are not related to diabetes or COPD.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is denied as it is not related to diabetes or COPD.,The Veteran's colonic polyps are denied as they are not related to diabetes or COPD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy and a visual field defect. The Veteran is asked to provide information about his medical history and any relevant records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of diabetes mellitus type II, and the Board dismissed the case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction were denied. The Board also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his death.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for colon cancer and hypertension were also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with parasthesia is related to his service at Camp Lejeune, including exposure to contaminated water.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II and associated disabilities have rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment since January 3, 2014. He is also entitled to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from January 3, 2014 to November 19, 2019 due to his need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence being added to the record, and the Veteran is entitled to a full review of his claims.

The appeals seeking a schedular rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, service connection for diabetes, and service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the facial area, right and left upper extremities, and right and left lower extremities are dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions from January 4, 2010, to June 12, 2011. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities from May 13, 1991 through May 11, 2010 was denied. The effective date for the grant of basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 prior to May 12, 2010 was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and neuropathy, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings. The effective date of service connection for hypertension is denied as it arose after July 30, 2013.