Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine at L3-L5 and S1 are now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021. Service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, CAD, PTSD, sleep apnea, and headaches are all granted.

The Board has identified errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist and remanded the cases for additional development related to the Veteran's exposure claims. The service connection claims are being remanded due to these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to the PACT Act, but remanded for further development regarding direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied.,The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment, thus a higher rating in excess of 70 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Board has also remanded for an opinion regarding secondary service connection for retinopathy.

The Veteran's DMII is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the issues with his right and left lower extremity neuropathy are each rated at 10 percent.,The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of increased ratings for DMII and both lower extremity neuropathies.

The Board is remanding the issues of whether the reduction in rating from 40 percent to 20 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity and left lower extremity was proper. The issues are also being remanded due to their inextricability with the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied effective January 14, 2022.,All related issues of entitlement to earlier effective dates have been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently assigned a noncompensable rating, and the claim for a compensable evaluation is denied.,There is no evidence of a current left hip disability during or approximate to the period on appeal. The claim for service connection for a left hip condition is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder with alcohol dependency is remanded as there was no specific assertion of PTSD and VA examination is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of the claimed psychiatric disorder, including whether it is secondary to or caused by a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded due to his assertion that it is secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection for diabetes mellitus (to include as secondary to hypertension) is also remanded based on the Veteran's assertion of its secondary relationship to hypertension.,Right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are remanded as they are claimed to be secondary to diabetes mellitus, which is itself a claim that requires further development.,The Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy claims are remanded based on the same reasoning as his diabetes mellitus claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and Parkinson's disease are remanded due to a duty to assist error regarding herbicide exposure during his service in the Republic of Korea.

The Veteran's GAD was granted service connection on a direct basis. The claims for back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and stroke are remanded due to duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 was granted with an effective date of April 2, 2009. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there were no prior communications that could be construed as a request for entitlement to the condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was diagnosed within a year of his separation from active duty service and is considered to have manifested to a compensable degree. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted on a presumptive basis due to service in Thailand. The heart condition claim is remanded as the AOJ failed to provide a VA examination.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes type II with diabetic retinopathy, finding that the Veteran's claim was not entitled to an earlier effective date based on new evidence received after a final denial in February 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various peripheral neuropathy conditions associated with diabetes mellitus type II are being remanded due to the need for further examination to address his claimed loss of use and quadriplegic incomplete status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder, Parkinson's disease, and diabetes mellitus type II, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for alcohol use disorder, stimulant use disorder, and diabetes mellitus type 2 due to their potential secondary relationship with his service-connected PTSD. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a VA examination and opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.