Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes, Parkinson's Disease and parkinsonism, ischemic heart disease (including CAD and angina), bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, cirrhosis, macular degeneration, vitiligo, and a heart disability, other than ischemic heart disease have all been granted.,SMC based on the need for aid and attendance has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus and bilateral knee disability due to additional development being required, including consideration of secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as due to herbicide agent exposure during the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records, specifically missing eye treatment and visual field testing results from VistA system. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts is now pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities and their relationship to his current conditions. The VA will obtain updated treatment records, including from September 2021 onwards, and provide a new opinion on whether these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of SMC based on this need. However, higher levels of SMC are available under the law, which requires remand for further adjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy have been granted increased ratings of 60 percent each. Service connection for an upper back condition has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment from October 20, 2004, to April 7, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during service and that his conditions are not related to service.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including a psychiatric disability and diabetes mellitus. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, with diabetic retinopathy, hypertension and erectile dysfunction is remanded for further development. The issue of individual unemployability prior to May 24, 2016 is also remanded.

The Veteran's onychomycosis is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. His chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus are not rated higher than the current levels, but he is granted SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's SLE is granted as related to his in-service exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Board affords great probative weight to the opinions of Dr. J.S-M. and Dr. S.B.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and Barrett's disease are remanded due to the Veteran's in-service exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer are granted as service connected due to herbicide agent exposure.,The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (LLE) and right lower extremity (RLE) are also granted as service connected secondary to his diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergies, a lumbar spine disability, right leg and left leg disabilities, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), endometriosis, headaches, multiple sclerosis (MS), right shoulder strain, and an ear disability have been denied. The Board has found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergies, a lumbar spine disability, right leg disability, left leg disability, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), endometriosis, headaches, multiple sclerosis (MS), and right shoulder strain have all been denied.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's diagnosed right shoulder pinched nerve.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was granted effective September 30, 2014. The criteria for both were met as of that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, specifically addressing whether the November 2001 claim was for compensation or pension, and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, TDIU prior to November 16, 2012, and ratings for bilateral lower extremities diabetic neuropathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves. The Veteran's right knee disability was not related to his active service, and his diabetes-related disabilities did not render him unemployable or unable to work.

The DIC benefits claim is denied because the Veteran did not meet the criteria for receiving such benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318. The service connection for cause of death is remanded to determine if the Veteran's arrhythmia and congestive heart failure can be characterized as ischemic heart disease, and whether his type II diabetes caused or aggravated his renal insufficiency.