Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2; a back and/or cervical spine disorder; hypertension (all claimed as secondary to service-connected disabilities); and a right knee disorder. The reasons given were that there was no evidence showing these conditions began during or were aggravated by service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to May 31, 2011 due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities not being sufficient to render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds the evidence at least in equipoise that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and stroke residuals are granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's now service-connected CAD causing his stroke residuals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional clinical documentation from St. Mary's Hospital.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, including PTSD, CAD, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined disability rating of at least 80 percent.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the issues on appeal, and thus these claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from October 31, 2014, to November 23, 2016, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and glaucoma: simple, primary, and noncongestive. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and kidney disease/stones secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Board dismissed the appeals as a result.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as it is presumed due to military environmental exposure to Agent Orange during his service at Korat RTAFB.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is dismissed. The claim for hypertension remains denied. Service connection for diabetes mellitus has been granted based on new and material evidence. Chronic constipation secondary to service-connected hypertension is now service connected. Claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, IBS, fibromyalgia, and MUCMI are all denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.,Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ is granted based on the Veteran's diagnosed erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's treatment at Fort Sanders Loudoun Medical Center on September 4, 2016 was for a condition of such severity that immediate medical attention was necessary to avoid serious health risks. The closest VA facilities were not feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been impractical.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities (claimed as sciatic nerve condition), diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee condition. The decision is based on evidence showing that obesity, a result of the service-connected left knee condition, contributed to the development of diabetes mellitus type II, which in turn caused or aggravated the other conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for impaired fasting glucose, claimed as diabetes mellitus type II, due to exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II or any related disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to exposure to Agent Orange are all granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, and additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone require the need for aid and attendance.