Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and denied a rating greater than 10 percent for hypertension. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not related to his military service, and his hypertension did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's migraine headaches associated with TBI are rated at 50 percent effective September 22, 2020. The initial rating for diabetes mellitus remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss beginning January 3, 2019 is granted. The initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss from March 23, 2012 to August 30, 2013 is denied. Service connection for a heart disability including coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and anemia are all denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for Diabetes Mellitus and associated Erectile Dysfunction, as well as a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 29, 2017. The effective dates for service connection of Erectile Dysfunction and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ were granted but no earlier than May 3, 2013.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development related to verification of the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicide agents while stationed in Thailand, and for extraschedular consideration of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, urinary dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's claims are based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents, but the evidence does not support a current disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and the relationship between his claimed conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease are denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's appeal for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant was denied as he does not meet the eligibility criteria due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy are rated at 30 percent each from June 27, 2019 to December 9, 2020. The Tension Disability (TDIU) claim is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in not obtaining all relevant service treatment and personnel records. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for obesity as it is not considered a disease or injury for which direct or secondary service connection may be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 10, 2018.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there was no underlying AOJ decision for review due to the Veteran not filing a timely VA Form 10182 (Decision Review Request: Board Appeal (Notice of Disagreement)) on the issue of the propriety of the AOJ's January 2020 severance of service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both legs, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and diabetic nephropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for type II diabetes mellitus, right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathies, and a skin disorder due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities have been granted at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar strain (lumbar spine disability) and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding herbicide exposure.,The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding herbicide exposure.

Service connection is granted for type II diabetes mellitus and kidney disability, but denied for bilateral upper and lower extremity pain and discomfort as well as vision disability. The issues of service connection for the upper and lower extremities are remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has remanded the claim for an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions have caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may be a factor in causing his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent since the beginning of the appeal period. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher evaluation for this condition.,For diabetes mellitus type 2, the Veteran was previously assigned a 10 percent disability evaluation and is now receiving a 40 percent evaluation effective January 25, 2021. However, prior to that date, his condition warranted a lower rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of unit history and Department of Defense letter regarding herbicide exposure in Korea. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is being reviewed again with these additional records.