Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and sleep apnea to allow for further development. The Veteran's obesity is being evaluated in relation to her service-connected psychiatric disability (depression with psychotic features and PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 2, 2009 is denied as he does not meet the schedular criteria for consideration of TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board finds that the Veteran's service on USS Independence did not qualify him for presumptive exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not establish actual exposure, and there is no competent medical opinion linking diabetes mellitus to service or any other theory of entitlement.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy due to lack of in-service disease or injury.

The case is being remanded for the VA examiner to provide a response regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or posttraumatic stress disorder. The examiner must respond specifically to both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development due to the failure to report for a VA examination, worsening of his service-connected conditions since the last examinations in March 2008, and need for a new total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no service connection for diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy could be decided as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further evaluation due to the addition of service-connected hypothyroidism, which has changed his combined rating from 70% to 80%. The VA will need to determine if the combination of disabilities prevents him from securing and maintaining employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected diabetes mellitus, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, was denied because the evidence did not show that he required insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic retinopathy has not resulted in a disability evaluation higher than 20 percent prior to August 25, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA medical examination and updating the claims file with any relevant treatment records.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 16, 2006 for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for the service-connected loss of visual field due to diabetic retinopathy (eye disability) and restored the previously assigned 20 percent rating for the service-connected right knee medial collateral ligament reconstruction (right knee disability) effective on January 23, 2001.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability due to aggravation during active duty. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied as she did not file an informal claim prior to January 9, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and diabetes mellitus are not related to his active duty service. The claims were denied.

The Veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits was denied as he did not have an employment handicap despite having multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examination reports and treatment records. The case will be adjudicated again after the new evidence has been considered.