Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease is granted. Service connection for residuals of head injury (TBI) and disability of the cervical spine are also granted, as well as service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD or due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy claims remain pending.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing disability, finding new and material evidence. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including PTSD, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss) are found to be disabling enough to prevent him from securing or following any form of gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the appellant's failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The AOJ will verify her current address and schedule another hearing if necessary.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities were assigned, but a remand is required due to insufficient clinical findings and missing treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, arterial sclerotic cardiovascular occlusive disease with partial arterial obstruction, cardiovascular disease, status post coronary artery bypass grafting, chronic renal insufficiency, and hypertension based on substitution.,Service connection is also granted for erectile dysfunction and bilateral peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the now service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for sleep apnea, secondary to diabetes mellitus and PTSD.

The Veteran's dysthymia is not service-connected, and the Board finds that it was not caused by VA care or treatment.,The Veteran's heart condition is not service-connected, and the Board finds that it was not caused by VA care or treatment.,The Veteran's thyroid disease is not service-connected, and the Board finds that it was not caused by VA care or treatment.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not service-connected, and the Board finds that it was not caused by VA care or treatment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disorder (due to exposure to Agent Orange), acute myositis of the quadriceps, peripheral neuropathy, heart disorder, hemorrhage of blood vessels in the brain, cerebral vascular accident/TIA, and bilateral eye disorder have been denied. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and its complications, as well as his erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during his service in Vietnam and also has a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, type II. Therefore, service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease have been dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as osteoarthritis of the bilateral hips.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for an upper and lower back condition was also denied, with no evidence showing such conditions during service or at present. The eye condition claim was granted on a secondary basis to diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and the VA is remanded to provide a medical opinion on whether his contributory conditions (coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus) contributed substantially or materially to his death. The burial benefits claim will also be reconsidered as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eye disability, including diabetic retinopathy, is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not cause him to be unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for depression and upper extremity neuropathy was granted, while his TDIU claim was also granted. The Veteran is now rated at 10% for each of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus and denied her claim for service connection. The issue of ischemic heart disease with coronary artery disease was also addressed, but as part of the remand process.

The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during service, which supports his claims for service connection for malignant melanoma and diabetes mellitus, type II.