Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC at the housebound rate were denied as his conditions did not warrant higher ratings based on the medical evidence provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity has been denied.,The Veteran's eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or automobile adaptive equipment has been remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has identified errors in the duty to assist and remands the claims for further development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The claims for hypertension, diabetic nephropathy rating, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's Hepatitis C is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The Board has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's peripheral nerve damage, respiratory condition (claimed as blood clots in the lungs), and sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate response in a previous VA medical opinion regarding whether exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune caused the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, which led to diabetic nephropathy and renal failure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, impaired fasting glucose or diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, a LEFT heel disorder, lumbar radiculopathy of both lower extremities, cervical radiculopathy of the RIGHT upper extremity, ulnar neuropathy / neuritis of the LEFT hand, and RIGHT eye conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain relevant federal records, secure missing Army Reserve medical records, and obtain VA treatment records from San Juan VAMC.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence showing he is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment because of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to June 25, 2014, for accrued benefits purposes. The decision grants entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, which requires insulin and a restricted diet with regulation of activities. The condition does not meet the criteria for higher ratings due to lack of episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and left ear hearing loss are all granted service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents in Korea. However, the right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss. The tinnitus claim is also granted as it is related to the now-service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that service connection cannot be granted for hypercholesterolemia as it is not a disability. The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, heart disability, hypertension, and peripheral arterial disease are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran does not require regulation of activities due to his diabetes. For TDIU, the Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities but they do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and insufficient evidence to establish a link between the current condition and service.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from January 31, 2020 to June 28, 2021 due to his service-connected disabilities. Prior to that date and after June 28, 2021, the Veteran's combined disability rating is 100%.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the entire period prior to December 17, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities making it at least as likely as not that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted. Additionally, the TDIU claim is being remanded due to the Veteran's testimony indicating his service-connected disabilities have caused unemployability.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated as 20 percent disabling since May 13, 2011. As of November 22, 2021, he is granted a separate 30 percent rating for complete paralysis of the musculocutaneous (superficial peroneal) nerve under Diagnostic Code 8522.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II and secondary service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The TDIU claim is also remanded.