Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia, back disability, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy, and PTSD, render him unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic retinopathy was reopened, and both conditions were granted. The initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine prior to August 1, 2018, was granted, while a higher rating is denied from that date forward. Separate ratings of 10 percent each were granted for LLE and RLE radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence provided by the Appellant's representative, which suggests a possible association between obstructive sleep apnea and type II diabetes and coronary artery disease. The VA needs to obtain further medical opinions on whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened and is granted. The claim for service connection for a thigh disability remains denied, as new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. Service connection for allergic rhinitis (claimed as an ear, nose, and throat disability) is denied.

The Board denied service connection for cardiovascular, pulmonary, and diabetes conditions claimed as the result of herbicide agent exposure due to lack of evidence of such exposure during service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not related to service and he did not serve within the Republic of Vietnam. His claim for this condition was denied.,Guillain Barre Syndrome was not incurred or aggravated during active service. The Veteran's claim for this condition was denied.,Bilateral arthritis of the arms was not incurred or aggravated during active service. The Veteran's claim for this condition was denied.,The Veteran's scar on the right middle finger does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable VA regulations. His claim for an increased rating was denied.,VA first received information about the Veteran's intent to file a claim for the scar on April 21, 2017. The effective date of his service connection for this condition is therefore not earlier than April 21, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a heart disability due to lack of an opinion on etiology. The Veteran contends he was exposed to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted increased ratings, with the right lower extremity receiving a 40% rating and the left lower extremity also receiving a 40% rating. The acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70%. Effective dates for these ratings are not being granted.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including left leg or knee disability, rectal bleeding, swollen hands and feet, rheumatoid arthritis, multi-site arthritis of the right shoulder, multi-site arthritis of the right hip, multi-site arthritis of the cervical spine (neck), multi-site arthritis of the lumbar spine (low back), right leg nerve damage, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, left kidney disability, gallbladder disability, sinusitis, headaches, appendix disability, discoloration and bacteria on the feet, erectile dysfunction, and eye disability or vision problems. The Board found no current disabilities for several conditions and concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis is denied due to the lack of persuasive evidence linking his current condition to service or any in-service asbestos exposure.,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, presumed due to herbicide agent exposure during service at Ubon RTAFB, is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed in several areas, including obtaining medical records from his active duty period and assessing the etiology of various conditions.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes, finding no credible evidence of herbicide exposure in Korea or onset within one year of service. The Veteran's claims were also not supported by medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction and diabetic nephropathy as the Veteran's diabetes does not require regulation of activities.

The Board has granted reopening of the claims for service connection for heart disease, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, anemia, and sleep apnea. However, the criteria for these conditions are not met as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand. The claims for rash/skin condition and chronic hepatitis with hiatal hernia and liver disease are dismissed as the appellant withdrew them at a hearing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a brain tumor with associated memory loss and diabetes mellitus, type II, due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The remand requires obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's CKD is secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy is found to be the cause of his diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, which has been granted as secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, prostate disability, and pulmonary disability due to herbicide exposure. The case will be processed as though a hearing had been withdrawn.