Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's chronic headaches have been granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since active service.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, has been denied as there is no evidence it was incurred during or within one year after the Veteran's completion of active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to herbicide agent exposure is granted. The Board also grants the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral knee disability, headaches, cardiac disease, and memory loss due to insufficient information in the record.,The Veteran's DM is being remanded as there was no consideration of his lifestyle and diet during service or exposure to environmental hazards while serving in Southwest Asia.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is being remanded because the examiner did not consider the February 1993 report indicating degenerative joint disease, nor the Veteran’s history of knee pain since service.,The Veteran's headaches are being remanded due to insufficient consideration of his reported history and March 2015 VA treatment record.,The Veteran's CAD is being remanded as there was no consideration of his lifestyle and diet during service or exposure to environmental hazards while serving in the Persian Gulf War.,The Veteran's memory loss is being remanded due to insufficient consideration of his other diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn appeals for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, except for the TDIU claim which is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The claim for bilateral lower extremity peripheral vascular disease is remanded as the cause of this condition needs further clarification.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His heart disability and tinnitus are currently rated as 60 percent and 10 percent respectively.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied, as he did not meet the DSM criteria. The reduction in his lumbar spine rating from 40% to 20% effective September 3, 2015 was found to be proper due to improvement evidenced by more restricted range of motion and increased radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied, but his claim for type II diabetes mellitus was granted with a rating of 100% effective from the date of his separation from active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient development regarding the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The RO must obtain medical opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not provided to support the previously denied conditions.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. His hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted, but diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee disabilities, DM, ischemic heart disease, TBI, and peripheral neuropathy are all denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection for DM was not granted because the condition did not manifest within one year after discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied as the earliest possible effective date would be March 27, 2017, when he submitted a new application. The Board found no evidence that his condition was diagnosed prior to this date.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected PTSD prior to October 3, 2016 and since December 1, 2016.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal regarding increased ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus was granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which is related to exposure to certain herbicides and his service-connected diabetes mellitus, remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his cardiac condition, peripheral neuropathy, and retinopathy due to Agent Orange exposure. The appeals are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease due to conflicting medical records and unclear nature of the Veteran's claim. The case is being returned for an additional VA examination and opinion regarding both conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, type II and skin disability, due to in-service exposure to herbicides. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran’s assertions of in-service herbicide exposure and provide VA examinations to determine the dates of initial onset and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The payment of adjusted military retired pay and adjusted VA compensation benefits in 2010 and 2015 was proper, as the Veteran received these payments despite receiving military retired pay. The appeal is denied.