Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of coronary artery disease, DMII and complications prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for prostate cancer and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran could still maintain substantial gainful employment despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted with an effective date of December 15, 2010, as the Board finds that he was unable to engage in substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities starting from this date.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to herbicide agent exposure during his service in Thailand, and assigned an effective date of August 6, 2014 based on when her DIC claim was filed with VA.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not rated higher than 20 percent, left knee condition, bilateral eye condition, and prostate condition are all being reviewed.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was received after the March 2019 Statement of the Case and remands the case for readjudication, including consideration of this new evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current knee disorders and diabetes mellitus. The claims for service connection for hypertension, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and diabetes mellitus are REMANDED.

The Veteran's CAD is granted a 100% rating effective September 15, 2015. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is mooted as part of the CAD claim. SMC at the housebound level is granted starting from January 3, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion regarding whether diabetes mellitus (DM) was due to herbicide exposure on a direct causation basis prior to August 10, 2022.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his in-service exposure and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to an issue with the Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) not including the representative's complete address.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension and erectile dysfunction is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective March 24, 2016. The conditions leading to the grant of TDIU were already service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's diabetes is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating due to lack of evidence of regulation of activities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence supporting earlier effective dates or a link to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right eye disorder (other than diabetic retinopathy).

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure by the VA examiner to address a specific medical article in their previous opinion. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent from September 9, 2016 until September 29, 2017.,Since September 29, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD is denied an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, incontinence, and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate VA opinions.