Diabetes Board decisions

The appeal to reduce the evaluation for service-connected diabetes mellitus is dismissed because it was a proposed reduction and not an implemented change.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Diabetes Mellitus Type II and Diabetic Nephropathy/Hypertension have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings before or after the relevant dates.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion was inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to address causation and aggravation of diabetes mellitus by the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes and prostate cancer. The Veteran's current diagnoses of OSA, diabetes, and prostate cancer are not supported by evidence showing a current disability at any time during or recent to the filing of his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, coronary artery disease, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus have been granted. Diabetes mellitus is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Thailand under the PACT Act. Tinnitus is presumed to be related to noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been granted, with the exception of some issues which were remanded. Effective from February 2, 2023, he is now eligible for SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ, earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II, and service connection for various conditions including PTSD, heart disorder, GERD, and gout.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, left leg amputation to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, diabetic kidney disease with nephropathy, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential outstanding VA treatment records and private medical records. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder, an earlier effective date for DEA benefits, and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms being more closely approximated by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for depression, insomnia, diabetes mellitus type II, left eye glaucoma, and right eye glaucoma due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's service records indicate exposure to burn pits during his Southwest theater of operations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulitis with IBS post-colon resection is remanded due to inadequate opinions and the need for a TERA opinion. The Board finds that the current opinions are insufficient and requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a deficiency in the record, specifically the failure to provide the Veteran with an adequate VA examination prior to the rating decision. The Veteran's diabetes is being examined for potential service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, has been remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; a heart disability; hypertension; and a lung disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with these conditions and reported symptoms during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since December 6, 2012. An earlier effective date of December 6, 2012, for the TDIU and DEA benefits is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy is rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available under current criteria.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, Type II, prior to December 12, 2022 and on and after December 12, 2022 are denied. The effective dates for service connection of left and right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy are granted as of June 30, 2020. The Veteran's claim for TDIU from June 30, 2020 to April 24, 2023 is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that new evidence did not warrant readjudication as it was not relevant to the issue.