Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings are set to April 18, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus on a secondary basis due to obesity caused by the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. Service connection for sleep apnea is also granted based on exposure to environmental hazards during service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a disorder manifested by high cholesterol has been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal. The Board has remanded issues regarding back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (other than service-connected persistent depressive disorder), bilateral eye disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral diabetic retinopathy with macular edema and bilateral visual field loss, but has remanded the claim for glaucoma.

The appeal seeking service connection for bilateral pes planus is dismissed.,New and material evidence having been received, the claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened.,New and material evidence having been received, the claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is reopened. Entitlement to service connection for PTSD is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted.,From July 19, 2018, to July 16, 2020, entitlement to a separate rating of 20 percent for right knee instability is granted.,For the entire period on appeal, entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion is denied.,Beginning May 18, 2022, entitlement to a separate rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for right knee limitation of extension is granted.,For the entire period on appeal, entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and a heart disability (including coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction with coronary artery bypass graft). The appellant withdrew his appeal in full.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while serving aboard the USS Midway. The claims will be reconsidered with additional verification of the Veteran's claimed exposures.

The Veteran's hypertension and/or hypertensive heart disease, type II diabetes, and diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities are all granted as they meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act.

The Board has denied service connection for Parkinson's Disease, diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and hypertension as these conditions are not related to active service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was not reasonably raised by the record prior to November 4, 2013. The effective date of TDIU is set at November 4, 2013.,Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 cannot be granted before November 4, 2013, as the Veteran did not have a total rating for service-connected compensation prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence, which was not considered in the previous decision.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus II and related conditions, as well as SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ. The effective dates are set at March 11, 2022.

The Veteran's bilateral glaucoma is rated at 10 percent, effective November 30, 2021. The Board denied a higher rating.,Diabetes mellitus type II remains rated at 40 percent, effective November 30, 2021. The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) and right lower extremity (sciatic nerve).,The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy is rated at 30 percent, effective November 30, 2021. The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) and right lower extremity (sciatic nerve).,Erectile dysfunction remains noncompensable.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated at 30 percent, effective November 30, 2021. The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) and right lower extremity (sciatic nerve).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus and a heart condition, so these matters are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, which the Board finds based on his education, work experience, and physical limitations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus have been granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted service connection. Service connection for diabetes is pending due to a need for additional medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the failure to obtain VA treatment records and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to provide names, addresses, and dates of treatment for all VA and non-VA health care providers who have treated him for his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted. The cases are remanded due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic retinopathy rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since April 22, 2011.