Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development regarding whether a service-connected disability, including steroid medications prescribed for service-connected bronchitis and sinusitis, caused or aggravated the Veteran's obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran asserts that his sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension are related to his Gulf War service exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical records and failure to consider the Appellant's contentions regarding the Veteran's in-service herbicide exposure and his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents in Guam during service. The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity are all found to be proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during service at the Udorn RTAFB in Thailand.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities has been granted initial ratings, with effective dates ranging from July 10, 2007 to July 9, 2021. The appeal is remanded for further consideration on other issues.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders due to inadequate examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on his in-service injuries, but the VA examiner did not address these issues adequately.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service, including herbicide exposure. The Board also found that the Veteran did not serve within the offshore eligible waters as defined by law.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and its connection to service-connected conditions. The appellant asserts that the Veteran's diabetes and acute coronary insufficiency were caused or aggravated by his use of prescribed medication and alcohol for treatment of service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye disability, bilateral kidney disability, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's chronic eye/visual disorder and chronic headaches were not found to be related to service.,Service connection was granted for a current diagnosis of fibrocystic breast disability with a rating of 10%.

The appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II is dismissed.,PTSD has been granted an initial 70 percent rating, but no higher.,Right lower extremity neuropathy of the sciatic nerve remains at 20 percent.,Left lower extremity neuropathy of the sciatic nerve remains at 20 percent.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve has been granted a 20 percent rating.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve has been granted a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not have onset during or within one year after separation from service and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure that could cause the current condition.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not service-connected as there is no evidence showing its onset during service or being related to an in-service event, injury, or disease. The diagnosis was made post-service.,There is no diagnosed bilateral eye condition due to service or service-connected disease or injury.,The Veteran's kidney condition is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service and there is no evidence showing its relation to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,There is no diagnosed skeletal arthritis or gout due to service or service-connected disease or injury.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating as regulation of activities was not required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and left ear hearing loss, prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. As his combined rating is at least 70 percent due to these conditions, he has been granted total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's TBI residuals, diabetes mellitus, peripheral polyneuropathy of the bilateral legs, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, and respiratory disability are granted. The Veteran's left eye photophobia and right eye photophobia are denied.

The Board denied service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy, left index finger condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as insomnia, anxiety, and depression), IBS, and DM II.,The Veteran did not provide evidence of current disabilities at the time of the September 2020 decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied. The Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right and left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, finding no current diagnosis of the condition related to service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.