Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, finding that the evidence showed moderate incomplete paralysis.

Service connection for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, and frequent urination are denied.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes mellitus type 2, peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities, atrial fibrillation, and chloracne scar are all denied as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure in service.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease with diabetic nephropathy has not met the criteria for a compensable rating during the appeal period, as his GFR was consistently above 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and he did not exhibit any of the specified symptoms or conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus are granted as they are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during his time in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart disease were all found to be incurred during service. The Board granted the claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remanded the claims for further development, including verifying service in the territorial waters of Vietnam and obtaining an opinion on the etiology of diabetes and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him permanently bedridden or unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. He is not substantially confined to his house due to service-connected disabilities, nor does he have a single service-connected disability ratable at 100 percent along with other unrelated disabilities that combine to at least 60 percent.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claims for service connection and compensable ratings are not before the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic Charcot right foot and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, led to the need for aid and attendance on July 31, 2015. The Board granted an effective date of July 31, 2015 for SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's application for VR&E benefits was denied because he did not meet the criteria for an employment handicap, despite having a combined rating of 100 percent due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran had overcome any impairments caused by his disabilities and was employed in a suitable position.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and hypothyroidism, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on this finding.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and compensation benefits due to a lack of proper intent-to-file submissions, resulting in an effective date of July 26, 2021.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2, with pseudophakia of both eyes, is rated at 20 percent and the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (persistent depressive disorder) with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 100 percent for residuals of thrombosis of the brain vessels with dementia has been denied as he is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating. The claim for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person (A&A) has been granted effective March 2, 2022.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knees and back conditions.

The Board denied service connection for type I diabetes, blurry vision, headaches, a heart condition, insomnia, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy as the evidence did not show these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was denied because there is no medical evidence showing that any of these conditions began during or were otherwise caused by the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that no legal basis existed to assign such a date. The effective date remains January 15, 2021.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA, finding that the Veteran's unemployability due to service-connected disabilities did not arise within one year prior to his December 30, 2009, informal claim.