Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural errors and additional evidence needs to be considered before a final decision can be made on the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and credible evidence to support the Veteran's claims of exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Okinawa, Japan. Therefore, service connection for IHD, diabetes, and hand tremors is denied as these conditions are not related to any aspect of his military service.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to TDIU as it is not part of this appeal, which addressed service connection for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions are downstream from the original service connection appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of diabetes mellitus, as well as the claim for TDIU due to the need for additional development. The Veteran's treatment records must be updated, including SSA records. A VA examination is needed to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and determine if it caused or aggravated his acquired psychiatric disorder. Additionally, a medical opinion regarding employability is required.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is being remanded due to the absence of a VA examination. The Board cannot proceed without this examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction due to herbicide agents exposure, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The case is also remanded for a medical opinion on whether any current erectile dysfunction is related to military service or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, a kidney disorder, and a prostate disorder due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease and a TDIU due to unemployability, as these issues are inextricably intertwined. The VA must provide the Veteran with updated examination results and information about the November 2019 examiner's qualifications. Additionally, the VA must obtain SSA records and refer the TDIU claim for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to the need for a new opinion regarding his service-connected knee disability, as well as the need to obtain VA treatment records from DeBakey VAMC.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's death was attributed to respiratory failure, bacteremia, septic shock, and bacterial pneumonia. The Board is remanding the case due to insufficient evidence regarding his service in Vietnam or Taiwan and potential exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy, and eczema due to potential exposure to Agent Orange during military service. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents and determine if he was exposed to Agent Orange at a Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as there is no medical evidence to suggest a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has restored the 40 percent rating for type I diabetes mellitus and denied a higher than 40 percent rating. The restoration is based on improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied for bilateral hearing loss, type II diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder (to include secondary to type II diabetes mellitus), and bilateral eye disorder (to include secondary to type II diabetes mellitus). The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a compulsive eating disorder as secondary to service-connected major depressive disorder and PTSD, finding no current diagnosis of an eating disorder separate from the Veteran's service-connected conditions.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was also denied as secondary to the claimed eating disorder or service-connected PTSD. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current eating disorder and concluded that diabetes mellitus did not manifest within one year of discharge.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for benefits under 38 U.S.C. � 1805 and 1815, finding that he does not have a form of spina bifida other than occulta and his mother is not a Vietnam veteran.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypothyroidism, benign prostatic hyperplasia (previously high PSA), hemorrhoids, itching problem of the hands and feet, and onychomycosis as there was no evidence of a direct relationship to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, DM II with erectile dysfunction and hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and cataracts, have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).