Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the extremities due to outstanding VA and non-VA treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction, as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, due to incomplete records and need for an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's liver disability is not considered an additional disability due to VA treatment, as his enlarged or fatty liver was found to be secondary to pre-existing conditions like diabetes mellitus and obesity. The Veteran's service connection for this condition is determined to be direct.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his in-service motor vehicle accident and granted service connection. The diabetes mellitus type II claim was remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), diabetes, and both upper and lower extremity neuropathy are remanded due to the need for further development regarding exposure to herbicide agents and other chemicals.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted as due to herbicide exposure while serving in Thailand. The heart condition claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure. The claims will be further developed by contacting the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the Marine Corps' Gray Research Center.

The Board has found that additional development is required before the claims on appeal may be decided. The Veteran needs to provide VA Form 21-4142 for any private physicians and medical facilities from February 1997 to May 2001, and then from May 2002 to August 2013 related to diabetes mellitus, type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The Board will remand the claims after this development.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, including red eyes, defective vision, and diabetic retinopathy. The January 2015 rating decision found that the vision impairment during service was due to a congenital or developmental defect (refractive error) and did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected. Prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type 2 are denied as not related to service or herbicide exposure. The left shoulder disability and sleep apnea remain under consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of tuberculosis has been denied.,Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, with associated peripheral neuropathy affecting the bilateral lower and upper extremities.,Left and right foot disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.,Peripheral neuropathy claims remain pending.,No specific exposure basis was provided in this decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient clarification of medical opinions and need for additional records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address his claims of increased ratings and TDIU, as well as a claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left shoulder surgery.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetic nephropathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher than 80% disability rating from January 31, 2014, to June 19, 2017, and denied his request for a 100% disability rating thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's heart disability, prostate cancer, diabetes, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing they were incurred or aggravated by his military service.,Specifically, the Board found insufficient evidence to support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his time in Thailand. The Veteran's service records do not indicate he had any ongoing problems with these conditions while in service and there is no other competent medical evidence suggesting an association to service.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for removal of left testicle due to in-service injury. Service connection is granted for this condition. The claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the determination regarding the removal of left testicle.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, as there is insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable because of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.