Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's cardiac arrhythmia and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with valvulopathy are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran is granted a higher initial rating for diabetic macular edema, but the appeal is denied as there is no evidence of active pathology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and sleep apnea, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's chloracne is presumed to be due to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange. However, there is no evidence of diabetes mellitus, type II, and the claim for this condition was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residual abdominal adhesions, status postoperative gallbladder surgery is granted. The Board finds that the December 2015 VA examination is inadequate to decide the claim and a remand is necessary for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim. The case is being remanded for further examination to determine if there is any relation between these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider the claims of service connection and increased rating, including a VA examination for urethral discharge (gonorrhea) and herpes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI with vertigo, nausea and headaches, COPD, sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction (ED), and left hand disability are all denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes did not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 20 percent due to lack of regulation of activities and no episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization or twice-monthly medical visits. The Veteran's complaints of short-term memory issues, dizziness, confusion, and low energy were less likely related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence that he submitted a formal or informal claim prior to December 21, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy with cataracts, ischemic heart disease, and memory loss have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's alleged herbicide exposure in Japan, and then to readjudicate his service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty.

The Veteran's appeals were granted, with increased ratings for PTSD and ankle disabilities. The right ear hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, but the effective dates for service connection of diabetic neuropathy in both lower extremities are being remanded.

The Veteran meets the threshold criteria for a TDIU under the percentage standards set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the limitations due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure or a nexus to his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative before the Board could issue a decision.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted it as secondary to a service-connected disability. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure during service, effective from September 1972 when the Veteran visited Vietnam. The right leg disability is not separately service connected.