Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active duty service and the claim for increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis and osteopenia, as well as DDD are being remanded.,The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is related to his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis and osteopenia. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, and right knee genu recurvatum are also being remanded.

The Board has granted SMC(l) based on loss of use of both feet due to service-connected peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's condition meets the criteria for this benefit.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all pending appeals due to his current 100% P&T status effective June 20, 2024.

The Veteran's death was caused by cardiopulmonary arrest, with congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease presence of stent as the underlying cause. The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension, which he had during service, contributed to his death.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for chronic rhinitis was denied.,Service connection was granted for bilateral upper extremity and lower extremity non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy, as well as coronary artery/arteriosclerotic heart disease s/p coronary artery stent placement.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased evaluations of hypertension and tinnitus. The appeal for service connection for DMII is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are dismissed as they constitute freestanding requests that cannot be entertained under current regulations.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities are denied.

The Veteran's claim for travel reimbursement was granted as he met the eligibility criteria and provided timely documentation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, chronic shoulder pain, and chronic knee pain as the evidence did not support a causal relationship to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2; hypertension; prostate cancer; and hypothyroidism. The evidence is in approximate balance on whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's exposure to toxic substances at Fort Dix.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence received since previous decisions. The Veteran's claims are related to exposure in Vietnam, but VA has not conceded herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, a left forehead scar as secondary to PTSD with TBI, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension have all been granted. These conditions are presumed related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Vietnam.,The Veteran served in Vietnam from November 1967 to November 1971, where he was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) as an Aviation Supply Clerk. His service is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's chronic lymphocytic leukemia is rated at 100 percent effective May 19, 2024. The impairment of sphincter control prior to May 19, 2024 is rated at 60 percent. The right lower and left lower diabetic peripheral neuropathy are both rated at 40 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not require regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his obesity, which in turn caused his diabetes mellitus type II. The Board has granted service connection for the diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated neurology treatment records and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected peripheral neuropathies.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and diabetic neuropathy is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for a right foot disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for an enlarged heart, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and diabetes mellitus due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II was granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The effective date is set at the earliest possible date, which would be February 6, 2017, as that is when the Veteran filed an intent-to-file form.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as they only resulted in occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.