Diabetes Board decisions

The appeal for service connection for left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy is dismissed. The appeal for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD with TBI prior to June 10, 2019, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient efforts by the AOJ in verifying the Veteran's claimed exposure to an herbicide agent while stationed in Panama from January 1971 to February 1972. The AOJ is directed to take additional steps to verify this claim and obtain relevant records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss has continued to decline since his last examination, and thus a new examination is needed to assess the current severity or extent of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus and erectile dysfunction are granted service connection. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, left ear hearing loss, and prostate cancer claims are denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's service periods and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance beginning February 10, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the need for regular aid and attendance, which meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound.

The Veteran's heart condition, including CAD, is rated at 60 percent for the entire initial rating period.,Effective from March 6, 2013, the Veteran receives a 60 percent rating for his coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease (CAD), right and left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PN), bilateral lower extremity femoral nerve PN, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic, tibial, and popliteal nerves PN have been denied. The effective dates for these claims are not granted.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance has also been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as due to service-connected diabetes mellitus was denied. However, the Board granted service connection for hypertension on a direct basis under the PACT Act. The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral nuclear sclerotic cataracts and a disability greater than 20 percent for bilateral high frequency hearing loss were both denied.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, both presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service onboard the USS Hancock.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete examination reports and inaccurately reported service records.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 25, 2017.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted due to presumed exposure during service in Thailand. The claims for Alzheimer's disease and dementia, right knee ACL tear and meniscus degenerative changes, depression, lumbar spine degenerative changes with lordosis, and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint impingement with mild tendinopathy are denied.,The Veteran was granted presumptive service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II under the PACT Act. The claims for Alzheimer's disease and dementia, right knee ACL tear and meniscus degenerative changes, depression, lumbar spine degenerative changes with lordosis, and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint impingement with mild tendinopathy remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and medical opinions, as the PACT Act requires such examinations if evidence of participation in toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) is provided. The claims are related to asbestos exposure during service.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes) and remanded the issue to obtain a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease with cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents while serving aboard the USS Hornet in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to military noise exposure, while his diabetes is not.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no new and relevant evidence presented to support the original denials. The Board found that none of the conditions claimed are related to his active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's disease and diabetes mellitus, type II as the evidence did not show exposure to herbicide agents during service or a link between these conditions and service.