Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 2, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the contributory causes of death.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the ratings for atherosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, bilateral diabetic retinopathy and left macular edema, and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including contacting the Massachusetts Army National Guard to obtain his medical and personnel records. Service connection will be reconsidered based on this additional information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and a VA examination. The issues include reopening her diabetes mellitus claim, seeking service connection for COPD, back disability, hiatal hernia, and one side of her body being smaller than the other.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's glaucoma is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been managed with an oral hypoglycemic medication and a restricted diet, meeting the criteria for a 20 percent disability rating. The Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for higher ratings due to his diabetes.

The RO has granted increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities to 20 percent effective September 1, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The diabetes mellitus rating remains at 40 percent, and hypertension is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as a result of his exposure to herbicides in the DMZ during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for type 2 diabetes mellitus and a TDIU. The Veteran was found not to meet the criteria for higher ratings or TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depression NOS, and generalized anxiety disorder), finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating, TDIU, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The Veteran also has pending issues regarding sleep apnea and a reduction in his coronary artery disease disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus was denied as the evidence did not show that his disability required regulation of activities beyond what is already contemplated by the current 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and personnel records to verify his reported service in Vietnam. The Veteran will be provided with a Supplemental Statement of the Case if the benefits sought remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, claimed as due to exposure to herbicides, is being remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for right nephrolithiasis and service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's kidney stones were not shown to meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and his diabetes mellitus was not related to service or presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current levels of impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of COPD. The Veteran's asthma has also not improved to warrant a higher rating.