Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of right knee degenerative joint disease and granted it. The request to reopen the diabetes mellitus claim was denied.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to provide records from Baptist Hospital and requested an addendum opinion regarding whether his diabetes is related to service-connected chronic ulcer disease or if it was present within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, and 20 percent each for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been withdrawn. The claims for an earlier effective date prior to April 22, 2010 for GERD are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus, both of which were related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA examiner found no nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's active service or exposure to contaminated water.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus due to insufficient consideration of his lay statements and lack of a secondary service connection opinion. The case is now pending with further development required.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as other conditions were denied. The Veteran was granted increased ratings for his PTSD and right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as the effective date cannot be earlier than September 25, 2017.,The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent and does not warrant a higher rating based on his blood pressure readings.,The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities (right and left) are each rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities (right and left) are each rated at 10 percent.,PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 9434.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including coronary artery disease and diabetic nephropathy, have resulted in the loss of use of both lower extremities. This has been determined to preclude locomotion without regular and constant use of an assistive device, leading to a grant for specially adapted housing. However, this legally precludes a separate special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for verification of exposure to hazardous materials and radiation during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetic retinopathy, PTSD, and lumbar spine disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent for diabetic retinopathy due to lack of incapacitating episodes under the revised criteria. For PTSD and lumbar spine disability, the Board noted that there was no evidence of at least 7 incapacitating episodes during the past 12 months.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left eye disabilities, specifically chronic dacryocystitis, dacryocystorhinostomy, pseudophakia, and diabetic retinopathy. The VA is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a clinician to address these issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for fibromyalgia/Gulf War Syndrome, diabetes secondary to substance abuse induced insulin resistance, and ischemic heart disease (IHD) before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents, has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee condition and diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is rated at 40 percent effective July 22, 2014.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches. The remaining claims are remanded and will be reconsidered with additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or aggravation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer residuals, hemorrhoids, and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The Veteran also has increased ratings for his prostate cancer residuals and erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, including as due to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Board also denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities with osteomyelitis of the great toes, each including as due to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, both presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder, effective July 15, 2015. He also received TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.,Effective August 20, 2015, the Veteran will be in receipt of TDIU on account of his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder alone.