Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus. The claims are now remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate addressing of a theory discussed in Walsh v. Wilkie, where obesity can serve as an intermediate step between a service-connected disability and a claimed disability in the context of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and hypertension are presumed to be associated with herbicide agent exposure during service.,Service connection is granted for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy.,The Veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in his left and right upper extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for ulcerative colitis and an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with history of hypoglycemia. As a result, the Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.

The Board denied service connection for prostate condition, malignant melanoma, and diabetes mellitus on the basis that there was no evidence of a causal relationship with service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.,The Veteran's vision disability is not secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and/or claimed diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's heart condition is not secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and/or claimed diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's vertigo is not a stand-alone disability and is not secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and/or claimed diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a result of herbicide exposure. The claims for vertigo, asbestosis, diabetes mellitus, type II, and arthritis are denied.

The Veteran's hypertension and prostate cancer are granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty.,Service connection for abnormal glucose/type II diabetes, colon polyps, heart condition, lower extremity radiculopathy/neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, both presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity sensory loss are remanded.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of January 22, 2019, for a 60 percent disability rating for CAD with bypass graft surgery.,The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of October 25, 2019, for total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of October 25, 2019, for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance based on permanent and total disability status.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic nephropathy with hypertension were denied. The rating for diabetes mellitus type II remains at 20 percent, while the initial rating for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension was granted as 30 percent effective from October 21, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and male reproductive organ condition due to potential in-service exposure to fish consumption near NCBC.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease, essential tremors, and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded for further development regarding potential exposure to contaminants at Fort Richardson.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities as due to herbicide exposure. The claims were remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bilateral hearing loss.