Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and bilateral plantar fasciitis, as well as his claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and OSA. The claim to reopen the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of new and material evidence, while the claim to reopen the issue of service connection for OSA was granted based on new evidence.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and benign prostatic hyperplasia are granted as due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as presumptively due to in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide agent exposure and a need for further examination to determine if type 2 diabetes mellitus is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding the relationship between her current conditions and service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. However, his pes planus is denied as not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with nephropathy on a presumptive basis due to the Veteran's diagnosis within one year of discharge. The COPD claim is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at St. Joseph's Hospital on May 16 through May 17, 2013 and at Dignity Health on June 3, 2013 due to lack of authorization from VA and failure to meet the criteria for emergency treatment.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy have been granted service connection. The appeal regarding a higher evaluation for SMC is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes is found to be the primary cause of his diagnosed conditions, including asthma, erectile dysfunction (ED), hypertension, bilateral diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy in multiple extremities, and a left eye scar. The Board has granted increased ratings for these conditions based on their secondary relationship to diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, particularly related to exposure to harmful chemicals during military service. The claims are now pending and will be reviewed again with further examination.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for tinnitus, PTSD, and hypertension are denied. Service connection for a back disorder, tension headaches, and vertigo is also denied.,An initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Hepatitis C claim is inextricably intertwined with his claims for liver disease and transplant, scar from liver transplant, and diabetes mellitus. The issues are therefore remanded.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service or exposure to Agent Orange. The claims were also not granted on secondary basis as the Veteran is not service connected for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has vacated its September 2020 decision and remanded several issues related to the Veteran's respiratory, sleep apnea, heart failure, implantable defibrillator, hypertension, esophageal condition, diabetes mellitus type II, and psychiatric disorders. The issues are now in a state of pending status.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetic nephropathy prior to February 22, 2018 was denied. The effective date for the grant of a separate 30 percent rating for diabetic nephropathy from April 27, 2015 is granted.,Total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been granted since July 10, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to inconsistencies in obtaining a nexus opinion and the need for further development of the obesity issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, type II. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred during his active duty service at Aberdeen Proving Ground due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for this condition is granted.