Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, and denied his increased rating claims for lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability. The Veteran was also denied TDIU.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type I was not shown to be related to his service or a service-connected disability. The Board denied the claim as there was no evidence of direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of epididymitis and service connection for PTSD and diabetes mellitus were denied. The case is REMANDED to the AOJ for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and bilateral diabetic retinopathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches, hypertension, prostate cancer or residuals thereof, and diabetes mellitus. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability in service or within one year post-service, and that any such disabilities were not related to service.

The Veteran was granted higher initial ratings for his right and left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy from May 18, 2009 to April 2, 2015.,Higher initial ratings were not granted for the Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to a recent Court decision in Gray v. McDonald, 27 Vet.App. 313 (2015), which requires consideration of whether the Veteran's service in Da Nang Harbor qualifies as in-country service in Vietnam or its inland waterways.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as her service connection claims for foot disability, rheumatoid arthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, respiratory disorder, and diabetes mellitus are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment from April 30, 2008 to July 30, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on frequency of hospitalizations or visits to diabetic care providers. His service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction were also considered in determining the appropriate disability rating.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease can be adjudicated. The Veteran served in Vietnam but not on inland waters, so direct exposure to herbicides must be established by evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II did not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment prior to October 25, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities have been granted, with a rating of 20 percent each.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding whether hypertension is secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in service, granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lump in the head and diabetes mellitus type II has been dismissed as withdrawn.,Service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss disability have both been granted, with new evidence received since the March 2004 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his sleep apnea. The issues of service connection for sarcoidosis and diabetes mellitus are also being addressed.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is found to be related to his service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted. The claims for secondary service connection for liver disorder other than hepatitis C, colon cancer, and diabetes mellitus are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran was exposed to herbicides during active service and has been diagnosed with ischemic heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that he was actually exposed to herbicides, allowing for presumptive service connection.