Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 28, 2021. From September 28, 2021 to May 22, 2022, the Veteran had a combined total disability rating of 100%, which rendered the issue moot as he was already receiving SMC based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated peripheral neuropathy were granted with effective dates of July 9, 2024.,Eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35 was also granted with an effective date of July 9, 2024.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current respiratory disability other than sleep apnea. The claims for abdominal pain, type I diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an immune disorder are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The appellant withdrew her appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, a headache disability, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), headaches, and hypothyroidism. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions at the time his claims were filed.

The Veteran's initial rating for Type II diabetes mellitus (diabetes) is denied, while an initial rating of 20 percent is granted for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective August 25, 2015 due to service-connected PTSD.,Basic eligibility for DEA benefits was also granted effective August 25, 2015.,SMC at the housebound rate was granted from May 5, 2016.

The Board denied readjudicating the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted as it is at least as likely as not related to service. The claims for diabetes mellitus and hypertension were dismissed as there are no justiciable issues remaining.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment since May 15, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted with effective dates of June 29, 2015. The Veteran is rated at 100% for his coronary artery disease and TERA participation.

The appeal is granted as the earlier effective dates for increased ratings of CAD and hearing loss, an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for PTSD, and an earlier effective date for TDIU benefits are granted. The appeal for SMC at the housebound rate is also granted with an effective date of January 30, 2023.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing is denied due to the lack of evidence showing loss of use of an extremity or complete paralysis of the external popliteal nerve. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand several claims, including those for a compensable evaluation for service-connected hypothyroidism, service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, lower back disability, upper neck disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension. The reasons are that the VA examinations did not adequately address the Veteran's reported symptoms and potential aggravation of his conditions by his service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain relevant exposure information. The AOJ is instructed to conduct additional development as outlined in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic kidney disease contributed substantially to his death, which was listed as the immediate cause of death. Therefore, the Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of May 15, 2023 for his total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus and lumbar spine strain have been granted service connection. The issue of diabetes mellitus is remanded for further review, as is the right knee pain and cervical spine injury.

The Board has found that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and an error in satisfying a statutory and regulatory duty, and the issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's diabetes is granted as service-connected due to in-service herbicide agent exposure. The Board finds the pre-decisional record inadequate for evaluating certain Parkinson's disease residuals and remands for further examination.

The Board has decided that service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 should be remanded due to a procedural error in the initial decision.