Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities in the aggregate rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of a SSOC. The Veteran's vision disability, including refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, astigmatism, and presbyopia are being reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various diabetes-related conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination for erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II, and residuals, laceration scar of the right chest have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Board has determined that the June 30, 2017 rating decision denying service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to no current diagnosis, was based on an inaccurate factual premise. The Veteran's December 21, 2016 intent to file a claim for service connection is considered the earliest date of claim and thus service connection is granted effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, with obesity as an intermediate step. The VA needs to obtain a new opinion from a qualified sleep specialist addressing both proximate causation and aggravation by hypertension and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left and right lower extremities, has been rated at the moderate level since June 1, 2018, for both legs. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a jaw disability, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, low back disability, and diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran contends that he developed these conditions during his active duty in Okinawa.,The Board found insufficient evidence to establish service connection for the jaw disability, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, or low back disability. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is also remanded due to the Veteran's contention of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The claim of service connection for PTSD was denied due to uncorroborated stressors, but the claim for bipolar disorder and other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder was granted. The claim for heart disability (atrial fibrillation with bradycardia and coronary artery disease) resulted in a 60% rating.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 20 percent and his hypertension with diabetic nephropathy is rated at 30 percent. The Board has remanded both issues for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions were dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has granted an extraschedular total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from April 22, 2014 to March 18, 2022 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease have been granted.,The Board has also remanded the issues regarding peripheral vascular disease of all four extremities due to unclear etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, persistent depressive disorder, and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy due to exposure to herbicides during active duty at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for diabetes and associated lower extremity neuropathies have been granted, with a rating of 40 percent in each leg.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of April 7, 2014 for various conditions related to Parkinson's disease and bladder cancer due to Agent Orange exposure. Service connection for bladder cancer is also granted.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and a heart condition based on toxic exposures while stationed at Fort McClellan. The right knee disability, migraine headaches, and skin disorder were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid disorder as secondary to diabetes mellitus and also denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type-II, both on the merits.,The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's thyroid disorder was related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.