Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's eye conditions, including left eye proliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema, right eye diabetic retinopathy, and bilateral cataracts, are being remanded for further clarification of the pathologic process responsible for his visual impairment. The VA will also need to determine if the Veteran has experienced incapacitating episodes related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, diabetes, lung disorder (claimed as COPD), tinnitus, and glaucoma. The Veteran must now request an SOC before these issues can be appealed further.

The Board has remanded the claims for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's request for a hearing at the RO was not addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, erectile dysfunction, and depressive disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various neurological disabilities and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to active service or secondary to her service-connected heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical evidence and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's hypertension, end-stage kidney disease, PTSD, and diabetes mellitus, type II have been granted service connection. The appeal for a higher evaluation of atrial fibrillation was denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is still rated at 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, migraines, heart disease and high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and low back disability have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea disorder, and prostate disorder have been denied. The claim for service connection for hearing loss was not reopened due to the lack of new and material evidence.,The claims for service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II (PACT Act), hypertension (PACT Act), an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea disorder, and prostate disorder have been granted. These issues are granted pursuant to the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act of 2022 (PACT Act).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, chronic kidney disease, and coronary artery disease due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors and missing medical records.

Service connection is granted for benign positional vertigo. The Veteran's appeals on right shoulder strain, right ball joint leg strain, eye floaters, Vitamin D deficiency, hyperlipidemia, and hypercalcemia are dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran. Service connection is remanded for DM, PTSD (related to vertigo), and hypertension.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is remanded as additional development is needed regarding the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act. Service connection for diabetes and removal of the left testicle are denied. The claim for service connection for a total left knee replacement prior to February 14, 2014, is granted with an initial rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and increased rating was incomplete at the time of his death in May 2017, and no completed formal claim was filed. Therefore, accrued benefits cannot be awarded.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus as secondary to sleep apnea. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective January 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the Veteran's current symptomatology, including her skin condition and weight gain, as well as whether these conditions are related to her service-connected hypothyroidism. The rating for the period from July 8, 2016, remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in prior medical opinions and for obtaining additional evidence. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type I is being reviewed again, with a focus on his service treatment records and lay statements regarding his weight gain during service.