Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been granted service connection on an accrued basis due to in-service herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's chronic kidney disease has also been granted service connection on an accrued basis as secondary to his diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to their death. The appeal for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was also dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 5, 2014.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with hypertension is rated at 20 percent and his moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the VA opinion regarding the Veteran's eye disabilities is inadequate and remanded for further examination and opinions. The issues of service connection for an eye condition, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus II, are now before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and Parkinson's disease due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The effective date is not specified as the decision is based on a presumption of exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The low back disorder is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Korea and Vietnam. The Veteran's statements concerning his exposure are considered credible, and the evidence supports this finding.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type two is denied. The case for service connection of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for separate ratings for bilateral upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the radial and ulnar nerves due to insufficient evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be significantly impacted by the outcome of the rating issue.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his right and left ankle disabilities. The issues of whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a right eye injury, service connection for diabetes mellitus, and entitlement to increased ratings for knee and migraine headaches are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and needs additional development, including obtaining specific dates of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA for the decedent's National Guard service. The VA also needs to obtain another medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the decedent's cause of death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, arthritis of the left shoulder, arthritis of the back, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, kidney condition, bladder condition, testicle condition, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The evidence received since the June 2014 rating decision is not new and material.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and hypertension have been granted. Service connection is denied for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, as well as the claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound. The AOJ is instructed to attempt verification of the Veteran's claimed service in Vietnam from December 1968 to May 1969 and his exposure to herbicide agents at MCAS El Toro, California.

The Board has granted service connection for a cardiac disorder as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for malaria and service connection for an eye disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates and disability ratings have been withdrawn.,A new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder).

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for diabetes and prostate cancer was granted. Diabetes is now considered service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, while prostate cancer is secondary to bladder cancer.

The appeal for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is dismissed as the Veteran has already been awarded this benefit. The appeals for initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with prior remand directives and for additional development, including obtaining complete medical records from Dr. T.M. and providing an addendum opinion regarding whether bilateral cataracts are related to service-connected conditions.