Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus. After considering all of the evidence, including a VA examination report from March 2015, which indicated that the Veteran was pre-diabetic within one year of discharge, the Board finds it as likely as not that his diabetes became manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service discharge in April 2005. Therefore, presumptive service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity edema was denied, as there is no evidence that the condition is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities was granted with a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging a diabetes mellitus examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a shrapnel wound of the neck remains pending.

The Veteran's vision loss is not service-connected, as it is due to his service-connected diabetes. His hypertension is not service-connected and cannot be presumed related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran does not meet the income requirements for nonservice-connected special monthly pension (SMP).

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is being remanded due to an unadjudicated issue of service connection for glaucoma, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to inadequate examination and lack of etiological opinion. The dental claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and its associated complications, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and/or PTSD), have not been found to be related to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to service connection for cholesterol, short-term memory loss, diabetes mellitus, eligibility for a non-service connected pension, and TDIU. The claim of service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to new evidence received since the April 2009 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for an opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis and his claimed diabetes and skin disorder.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and treatment records. The case will be adjudicated again after these are obtained.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not service-connected as it is more likely due to medication for nonservice-connected conditions.,His proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which has been service-connected, does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, and his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus was not shown to be related to his active military service and is therefore denied.

The Veteran was unable to maintain substantial gainful employment from August 2006 to August 2007 due to service-connected disabilities, but has been able to obtain and maintain substantially gainful occupation since then.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and rheumatoid arthritis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during service. The Veteran's diabetes was attributed to prednisone use rather than Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension. The Board has determined that an addendum opinion from the VA examiner is needed to address whether the diabetes mellitus is caused by or aggravated by the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and bilateral eye disability (including dry eye disorder with photophobia and cataracts) were both denied increased ratings. The diabetes was rated at the minimum level, while the eye disability remained at a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and additional treatment records. The issue of an increased rating for diabetes mellitus remains on hold until further clarification from the Veteran.

The Board finds that an earlier effective date prior to May 11, 2005, for the award of DIC benefits is not warranted as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim received within one year from the Veteran's death in September [redacted], 2001.