Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has found that the case needs to be returned for further review due to new evidence submitted after the initial decision. The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection are being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, but has remanded her claims for arthritis of the knees due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for an opinion on the etiology of her diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran's subjective reports of in-service symptoms were not credible and there was no competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to service.,The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a specific injury or event during active duty or reserve service that caused his current right shoulder disability.

The appeal is dismissed as the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II has been fully granted with a 10% rating effective June 5, 2014. There are no remaining issues in controversy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions of pancreatic cancer, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and jaundice are not related to his service at Camp Lejeune or any other period of active duty. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise linked to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type I was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20% prior to April 1, 2016 and in excess of 60% from April 1, 2016 through September 28, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Diabetes Mellitus Type II, and Peripheral Neuropathy on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's cause of death is also considered service-connected.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus should be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the previous VA examiner's opinion and new articles submitted by the appellant.

The Board has remanded both claims for diabetes mellitus and macular degeneration, as new VA clinical documentation was submitted. The Veteran requested a remand to consider the additional records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and no other basis for granting service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II, are rated as they currently manifest. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, arthritis, low back disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, peripheral neuropathy, right hand, left hand, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not establish a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current tinnitus, which was first noted decades after separation from service. The TDIU issue is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for pancreatitis pseudocysts and diabetes mellitus, both potentially related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The issues are held in abeyance due to their interrelated nature with the diabetes claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to issues regarding the Veteran's cause of death and service-connected burial benefits. The cause of death is related to COPD, DM II, and peripheral vascular disease. The issue of service connection for the cause of death remains under review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is a symptom of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied an increased rating for diabetes mellitus and remanded the TDIU claim. The decision is binding only with respect to the specific issues decided.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death was acute respiratory distress syndrome due to, or as a consequence of, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; pneumonia; and multiple organ failure. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death, but the VA examiner found no causal relationship between his service-connected conditions and his death. She also presented an alternative theory that his death was due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board has ordered additional records from SSA and Integris Baptist Medical Center.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus type II effective June 22, 2021. The appellant's disability picture does not warrant a higher rating prior to that date.