Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for a higher rating for diabetic nephropathy, special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate, and service connection for gout and folliculitis. The Board has granted a higher rating for diabetic nephropathy but remanded the issues of service connection for gout and folliculitis due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to new theories of entitlement and newly submitted evidence, requiring further development to determine if the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder with insomnia or sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and right hip disability to obtain additional medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is presumed to be related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to potential exposure at Guantanamo Bay during a training exercise.

The Veteran's claim for COPD and restrictive lung disease is being remanded due to incomplete development. The issue of service connection for chronic cough will also be remanded as the VA medical records related to this condition are not in the claims file.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service event, injury or disease and the weight of the evidence is against a finding that his current condition is related to service.,The Veteran's low back condition, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's diabetic sensory peripheral neuropathy (PN) of the lower extremities is currently rated at 40 percent each for the right and left legs. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of marked muscular atrophy.

The Board denied service connection for prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension as there was no evidence of a nexus to service or within the first post-service year.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The Veteran's heart conditions, diabetes mellitus type II, and lower extremity neuropathies are not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism caused or aggravated his type II diabetes mellitus, and if so, whether his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities also contributed to his obesity and diabetes.

The appeals for separate ratings for peripheral neuropathy and initial rating for diabetic nephropathy are dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and OSA due to conflicting opinions from previous examiners. The Veteran is also seeking TDIU which is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of his December 2015 rating decision, finding that his January 2017 Notice of Disagreement was untimely and not supported by good cause.

The Veteran's diabetes and hypertension are service-connected because they were caused by weight gain due to their service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, gout, renal failure, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction and proteinuria was granted a 40 percent disability rating from March 24, 2008 to January 11, 2013.,From January 12, 2013, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction and proteinuria was granted a 60 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (median nerve) was denied any increase in disability rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (median nerve) was denied any increase in disability rating.,A separate 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (radial nerve) was granted.,A separate 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (radial nerve) was granted.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) was denied any increase in disability rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) was denied any increase in disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to improper handling of his appeal in the legacy system.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from February 26, 2019. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to that date for referral to the Executive Director of Compensation Service for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including a new VA examination to differentiate symptoms of service-connected diabetic PVD from those associated with service-connected neuropathy.