Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and therefore denied this claim. The evidence did not establish a link between any diagnosed mental health condition and service.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the earliest time permitted. The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and lumbar strain, as well as special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance, are currently before the Board.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the Miles Bluff Medical Center and Mayo Clinic. The appellant will be provided with a Supplemental SOC if the decision remains adverse.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no disability rating is assigned for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diabetes mellitus, and COPD are not related to his active service.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 80%, meeting the threshold percentage requirements for a TDIU. However, despite this, VA medical opinions indicate that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetic nephropathy, neurogenic bladder, hypertensive heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands and lower extremities, and type II diabetes mellitus with nonproliferative retinopathy, cataracts, onychomycosis, and impotence, require regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, kidney disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), alcohol abuse disorder, acid reflux, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical clarification.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional medical clarification.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical clarification.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional medical clarification regarding exposure to Camp Lejeune and environmental toxins.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and a kidney disorder are all being remanded due to the need for additional medical clarification.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical clarification regarding in-service psychiatric treatment records and diagnoses.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for alcohol abuse disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical clarification regarding the relationship between his alcohol use and any diagnosed mental health conditions.,The Veteran's claim for acid reflux is being remanded due to the need for additional medical clarification.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional medical clarification.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, musculoskeletal issues, eye problems, and gastrointestinal issues. The Board has determined that further medical examination and opinion are necessary to address the nature and etiology of these claims.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus have also been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's conditions, including diabetes and its related complications, are not service connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection based on lack of evidence showing onset or causation in service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, stomach disorder, high cholesterol, and an eye disorder prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board grants a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and right leg injury are inextricably intertwined with his bilateral eye total blindness secondary to diabetes claim. The case is being remanded for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the appellant. The claim for traumatic brain injury is dismissed due to withdrawal by the representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's achievement of a vocational goal as a social worker is not reasonably feasible due to his felony conviction, and therefore denied his claim for additional vocational rehabilitation and education benefits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His diabetes mellitus remains rated at 40 percent, and his diabetic retinopathy with early cataract changes is rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion addressing whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status, nor does she meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with diabetic retinopathy is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation or separate compensable evaluation for diabetic retinopathy.