Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's diagnosed hypertension is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has vacated the April 14, 2020 decision denying TDIU benefits due to failure to defer a decision on the issue until OSA was assigned a disability rating. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, specifically colon cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, skin lesions, basal cell carcinoma, and cysts. The appellant is requested to provide additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claim for hypertension due to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and/or acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) as well as exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's current hypertension is being reviewed by a VA examiner who will provide an opinion on its relationship to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to July 3, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran was still employed and making a sufficient income.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for ischemic heart disease and granted his claims for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease (including coronary artery disease and coronary atherosclerosis), as well as peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, all presumed due to herbicide exposure during service. The appeal regarding cataracts, retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and lung cancer are reopened due to the introduction of new and material evidence. The cases are remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Board dismissed all issues related to service connection and rating for various nerve conditions, as well as TDIU. The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of both legs, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 7, 2017 or in excess of 20 percent from December 7, 2017 onwards.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower neuropathy, chronic kidney disease, macular edema, retinopathy, and hypertension are all granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes disability. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, and leg ulcers (left and right) as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a finding of herbicide exposure or any other form of presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to a lack of adequate VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's right elbow disability is granted a 60 percent rating after May 12, 2021. His diabetes mellitus type 2 is denied any increased ratings.

The Veteran's death is not considered to be due to a service-connected disability, as the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are not met. The cause of death is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus and kidney failure for further development due to inadequate medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service aboard the U.S.S. Gallant in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for his neck condition. His request to reopen the claim for service connection for lymphedema of the bilateral lower extremities has been granted, and he is now presumptively entitled to service connection for this condition due to a latent filarial infection incurred during service in the Philippines. The diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded as they depend on whether the Veteran had qualifying service in the Republic of Vietnam or not. His respiratory condition claim is also remanded for additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and heart disability due to in-service high cholesterol as there were insufficient efforts made to obtain the Veteran's service records, including travel records. Additionally, a new medical opinion is needed regarding the relationship between the conditions and service.