Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues, including the reopening of claims and the assignment of initial ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Lower Extremity, and Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Lower Extremity have been denied. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for an examination to assess his current level of disability due to peripheral neuropathy.

Entitlement to an effective date prior to March 7, 2016 for the grant of an 80 percent rating for diabetic nephropathy is denied.,Entitlement to an effective date prior to March 15, 2016 for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.,Entitlement to an effective date prior to March 15, 2016 for the grant of service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.,Entitlement to an effective date prior to March 15, 2016 for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.,Entitlement to an effective date prior to March 15, 2016 for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and associated complications such as diabetic nephropathy, anxiety disorder, right Charcot foot, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, skin ulcer, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, rendered him unable to secure or retain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted TDIU based on these service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, lung disability (originally claimed as black spots on the lungs), cardiovascular disability (coronary artery disease) to include as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, and diabetes mellitus, type 2. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during service or a link between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, PTSD with depressive disorder evaluation, and TDIU due to outstanding records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes was not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of discharge and is not otherwise related to his military service.,A 20% evaluation for lumbar strain from March 28, 2012 until December 7, 2016 was granted. The Veteran has now been assigned a 20% rating throughout the pendency of this disability being service connected.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his lumbar strain after December 7, 2016 was denied.,A 10% initial evaluation for hypertension was granted. The Veteran takes medication for hypertension and has not had diastolic pressure predominantly at or above 110 or systolic pressure predominantly at or above 200.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that the Veteran's exposure to chemicals during his active duty service resulted in his current condition. The claim is based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's cancer of the pancreas, gall bladder, small intestine, spleen and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further evaluation due to alleged exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for type II diabetes mellitus is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the service-connected diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated the need for amputation of all right foot toes. The Veteran needs to provide records from his treatment and any private providers, and a medical opinion is needed to determine if diabetes contributed to the underlying disease that required amputation.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities combine to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, resulting in a TDIU for the relevant periods.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted. The reopened claim, however, was denied as his obstructive sleep apnea did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise related to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including neck disability, GERD, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The claims were remanded for further action on some issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of permanent and total disability affecting locomotion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for chronic kidney infection, diabetes mellitus, type II, and seizure disorder as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II need further development due to incomplete medical records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 1 as there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within one year after separation. The Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions claimed as resulting from exposure to herbicides, including diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, bilateral hand disability (dupuytren’s contracture), blindness of the left eye, tinea pedis, hiatal hernia with gastric nodule and erosive duodenopathy, bilateral leg pain, bilateral arm pain, and bilateral foot pain. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand. His bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also granted as secondary to his now service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to the inextricably intertwined issues of service connection and whether the Appellant has status as a veteran for VA purposes. The AOJ is instructed to request specific details from the Appellant regarding his claimed disabilities and their potential relationship to his military service, including which periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA he believes are relevant.