Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with parasthesia is related to his service at Camp Lejeune, including exposure to contaminated water.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II and associated disabilities have rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment since January 3, 2014. He is also entitled to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from January 3, 2014 to November 19, 2019 due to his need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence being added to the record, and the Veteran is entitled to a full review of his claims.

The appeals seeking a schedular rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, service connection for diabetes, and service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the facial area, right and left upper extremities, and right and left lower extremities are dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions from January 4, 2010, to June 12, 2011. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities from May 13, 1991 through May 11, 2010 was denied. The effective date for the grant of basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 prior to May 12, 2010 was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and neuropathy, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings. The effective date of service connection for hypertension is denied as it arose after July 30, 2013.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and his claims for accrued benefits were not filed within one year of his death. The causes of the Veteran's death (cardiorespiratory arrest, end stage chronic obstructive lung disease, and coronary artery disease) are not related to service.

The appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension. The Veteran is also entitled to SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.,An effective date prior to May 6, 2019, for the award of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance remains pending.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus.,For the denial, the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA standards.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, examinations, and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including GI disorder, DM, heart disorder, back disorder, kidney disorder, RUE neuropathy, LUE neuropathy, RLE neuropathy, and LLE neuropathy. The Veteran's symptoms were not found to be related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's fatty liver disease, GERD, respiratory disorder (COPD and pulmonary nodules), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD are not service-connected.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is remanded.,The Veteran's TDIU prior to July 11, 2015, is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated diabetic neuropathies are rated at 20 percent or less, and the Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine if higher ratings are warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral sciatic nerves were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder precludes him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment, leading to a TDIU effective April 20, 2017.,SMC at the 's' rate is granted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities combining to 60 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with diabetic retinopathy and erectile dysfunction is rated at 60 percent. Separate compensable ratings for erectile dysfunction are not warranted. Increased ratings for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, right leg below the knee amputation (BKA), and peripheral neuropathy of both sciatic nerves are denied.