Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the issues of glaucoma, right shoulder disability, sciatic neuropathy in the left lower extremity (LLE), and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to procedural deficiencies.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of medical records. The Veteran's eye disabilities are presumed related to herbicide agent exposure in service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as the evidence did not show that his diabetes required more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the contribution of service-connected disabilities to the Veteran's functional impairment and for obtaining private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, squamous cell carcinoma, diabetes mellitus type 2, bladder cancer, sleep apnea, prostate cancer, and coronary artery disease, due to exposure to herbicides. The remand includes verifying Agent Orange exposure and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's initial rating for left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,For the initial rating period from July 30, 2016 to January 2022, the Veteran's left lower and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathies were each rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding her exposure to herbicide agents and other chemicals at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The AOJ is instructed to verify these exposures and then decide the claims based on the new information.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various Parkinson's disease residuals were denied. The highest possible rating of 30 percent was assigned for irritable bowel syndrome, and the Veteran is already receiving that maximum rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II due to open medical questions. The Veteran contends that his service-connected sleep apnea and depressive disorder caused him to develop obesity, which in turn caused hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and neuropathy of the extremities, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from January 11, 2019 to September 18, 2019. Prior to this period, his diabetes alone did not prevent him from securing and following such employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and hypertension are granted. Service connection is also granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act for hypertension.,Service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it is not a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale provided in previous VA opinions and because of a potential TERA exposure under the PACT Act. Additional development is needed, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for fatigue, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), erectile dysfunction, heart condition, type II diabetes mellitus, and depression have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right hip disability, and left hip disability are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents. The remand is required because there is insufficient information to verify that aircraft or aircraft parts handled by the Veteran were exposed to herbicide agents during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include panic attacks and an anxiety disorder as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disability and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient verification of herbicide agent exposure at Camp St. Barbara.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction has been granted. Service connection is also granted for left eye diabetic retinopathy, bilateral hearing loss, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy.,The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for residuals of colon cancer has been denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to new evidence suggesting it may be related to his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to TDIU prior to April 4, 2017 due to insufficient evidence indicating whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to September 29, 2016, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.,Initial ratings of 40 percent were granted for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, with an extraschedular rating for retinopathy.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as his disability did not require one or more daily injections of insulin and regulation of activities.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was also denied, as there is no evidence that he was unable to work due to his service-connected disabilities prior to August 31, 2022.