Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The maximum schedular rating for recurrent tinnitus (tinnitus) is 10 percent, and there is no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure while stationed at the U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and reviewing the coroner's report. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Guam under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's diabetes and coronary artery disease are due to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The left ankle arthritis is also secondary to his service-connected fracture left distal tibia and fibula.,Service connection for diabetes, CAD, left ankle arthritis, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran has a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II for VA purposes, and needs further clarification from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service and grants service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus II, prostate disability (including prostate cancer), essential hypertension, ocular hypertension, kidney disease, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or any other event, injury, or disease related to the Veteran's claimed conditions.,The Board concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his claims are based on direct service connection and not on presumptive service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus II, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are all granted as related to exposure to firefighting foam during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective September 13, 2019. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), and Parkinson's Disease have been denied. The Board found insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service stressors or herbicide exposure.,There is no indication that the Veteran served outside the United States, specifically in Germany where he claimed his PTSD stressor occurred.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings are denied.,The Board has remanded several issues including the rating of prostate cancer residuals, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II are granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's application for benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) was remanded due to a lack of caregiver training and an inability to complete assessments within 90 days. The claim is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for cervical radiculopathy of the upper extremities and degenerative arthritis of the spine are remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded as there were no recent private medical records submitted.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis of the hands, with ununited fracture ulnar styloid on the right, is remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for gout, bilateral great toe MTP joint, is remanded as there were no recent private medical records submitted.,The Veteran's claim for left ankle insertional Achilles tendinopathy with gout is remanded due to inadequate nexus opinion on the part of the VA examiner.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is remanded as there was no current diagnosis in the October 2021 VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for nummular eczema is remanded due to an inadequate nexus opinion based on the absence of a presumptive condition list.,The Veteran's claim for prostate condition is remanded due to an inadequate nexus opinion based on the absence of a presumptive condition list.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to a duty-to-assist error in not obtaining SSA records and an inadequate VA examination regarding chemical or environmental toxin exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily type 2 diabetes mellitus and PTSD, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 1, 2015 for the grant of a TDIU and basic eligibility to DEA benefits. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of that date.

The Veteran's service-connected status post esophageal surgery with dysphagia and residual scar associated with peptic ulcer disease, along with type II diabetes mellitus, rendered him unable to maintain gainful employment. The Board granted SMC based on housebound status beginning September 30, 2014.