Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus with retinopathy did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to November 22, 2013. The Board denied a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's hypertension, left upper and right upper extremity neuropathy, left knee disability, and right knee disability are granted. The Veteran's DM is remanded for increased rating consideration.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence did not show a direct link to active-duty service and was not related to any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and denied service connection for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and acquired psychiatric disability. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and a left shoulder disability due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing service in Vietnam or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes, heart disease, cataracts secondary to diabetes, glaucoma secondary to diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as not related to service or due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection was also denied for these conditions because there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of right knee disorder, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was not supported by evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence of in-service exposure or causation. The remaining claims (for ischemic heart disease, bilateral knee disabilities, and TBI residuals) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's military duties placed him near the DMZ in Korea, and diabetes mellitus type II is presumed due to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for type 2 diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU prior to October 2, 2017 and remanded the issue of entitlement to a separate rating for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's left knee condition is not service-connected as it was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus type two.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy and type II diabetes mellitus have been granted increased ratings, while erectile dysfunction and hypertension remain denied.,A separate initial disability rating of 10 percent has been granted for right ankle instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for impaired vision, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hip disorder, pes planus, and bilateral foot disorder (other than flat feet) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and PTSD) due to insufficient evidence on record.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at a 60 percent rating since February 2, 2021. The left upper and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathies are each rated at 40 percent ratings. The bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy was initially rated at 20 percent prior to July 12, 2018, and 40 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected prior to August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 13, 2014, for the 60 percent rating assigned for coronary artery disease is granted. The effective date was based on a new claim filed by the Veteran shortly after his diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as federal retirement records.

The appeal with respect to the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for a lung disability is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for chronic open angle glaucoma and nuclear sclerotic cataracts is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral elbow disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral wrist disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hip disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a spine disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability (claimed as skeletal arthritis) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for hypertension due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for a heart disability due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to service or service-connected disease or injury is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for RBD is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II remains denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including kidney disability, heart disability, liver disability, hypertension, thyroid disability, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy, all related to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's service in Vietnam was not confirmed, and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides during service.