Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for respiratory, diabetes, prostate cancer, and colon cancer conditions are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or connection to service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD and hearing loss are denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to the date of receipt of his VA Form 21-526 EZ Fully Developed Claim on January 25, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus is also denied as he did not file a valid intent to file a claim prior to March 9, 2018. The claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss requires additional evidence and a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus is remanded as there is conflicting evidence regarding the treatment regimen required due to his diabetes. A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his diabetes and any associated complications.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for blurred eyesight requires a VA examination to determine if it is related to service or caused by his diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD requires a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition since his last examination in March 2019.,The Veteran's claim for prostate discomfort requires a VA examination to determine if it is related to service or caused by his diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims and service connection claims on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, due to insufficient compliance with its prior remand directives. The case is being returned for further development and an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for arthritis, hypertension, dizziness to include as secondary to hypertension, heart condition to include as secondary to hypertension, prostate cancer to include as due to asbestos and/or lead paint, lung condition to include as due to asbestos exposure, erectile dysfunction to include as secondary to medication for prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus type II to include as due to toxic exposure from a naval vessel is denied.,The Veteran's tinnitus, arthritis, hypertension, dizziness, heart condition, prostate cancer, lung condition, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted a higher rate of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions, which include generalized sarcoidosis with headaches, cardiomegaly associated with generalized sarcoidosis with headaches, bilateral diabetic retinopathy with macular edema and cataract, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, major depressive disorder, erectile dysfunction, and dermatitis. The Veteran is in receipt of a combined total evaluation for compensation of 100 percent from July 22, 2008.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to herbicide agents.,Service records did not show any diagnosis of these conditions during service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's duties were unrelated to areas where herbicide exposure was presumed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequacies in the VA examinations and other issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with nephropathy and erectile dysfunction required more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities prior to January 25, 2021. The Board has remanded the issues related to a respiratory disorder secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, respiratory disability, peripheral circulatory disorder, right lower extremity neurological impairment, and left lower extremity neurological impairment due to inextricably intertwined issues remaining on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and right knee disability due to missing records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes is reopened and granted. The claim for a neural disorder other than neuropathy of all four extremities, to include Parkinson's disease, is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and hidradenitis suppurativa due to insufficient examination opinions regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by service-connected folliculitis decalvans of the scalp.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, and a diabetic foot ulcer to obtain medical opinions regarding their severity.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a combined disability rating higher than 60 percent, citing satisfaction with the current 90 percent rating. The Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death and service connection claims. The issues are inextricably intertwined, requiring a new opinion on each.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the denial of nonservice connected pension because the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal within 60 days of the May 2018 SOC or one year after the January 2018 decision.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including CAD, PTSD, and diabetes, rendered him unable to follow substantially gainful employment as of March 12, 2020. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted a 70 percent evaluation, effective from the date of claim. A TDIU is also granted, effective March 2, 2018.

The appeal has been dismissed as the widow requested withdrawal of her husband's appeal regarding service connection for a thoracic aortic aneurysm associated with diabetes mellitus.

The appeal of the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, low back disability, headaches, left hand and index finger disability, bilateral foot disability, and PTSD is dismissed. The issues of service connection for a low back disability, headaches, left hand and index finger disability, and bilateral foot disability are remanded.