Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the effective date for DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death should be November 1, 2013, as this is the earliest allowable effective date based on the relevant law and regulation pertaining to DIC claims. The appellant’s October 2013 claim was interpreted by the AOJ as including a claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has not resulted in episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year, so a higher rating is denied.

The appeal of the claim seeking service connection for bilateral eye disorder, asthma, COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been dismissed.,The appeals of the claims seeking service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, OSA, and diabetes mellitus have been remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding TDIU as moot due to the restoration of a 100% rating for service-connected malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The case is remanded for further consideration on the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that diabetes mellitus, type 2 had its onset within one year of the Veteran's separation from service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance and/or housebound status, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for this benefit.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain private treatment records from Steele Memorial Rural Health Clinic, which may contain relevant information for the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II claim.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran's poor dentition related to his service-connected maxillary fibroma has aggravated his diabetes mellitus type I, or if it was proximately aggravated by poor dentition related to his service-connected maxillary fibroma.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection as they are moot due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular A&A of another person, and the preponderance of the evidence is against his claim for SMC based on A&A or by reason of being housebound.

The Board has restored service connection for Chronic Kidney Disease with Hypertension and found the severance of service connection for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Upper Extremity and Right Upper Extremity to be proper.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's initial higher rating for diabetes mellitus and separate ratings for diabetic neuropathy are granted. Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to insufficient etiological opinions considering the Veteran's physical and psychological limitations from his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), eye disorders, shortness of breath, hypertension, kidney disorder, heart disorder, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, are all denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted prior to August 26, 2019 and from that date. The Veteran's OSA claim is remanded.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains in dispute.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings of right knee laxity and chondromalacia patella was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,A 40 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted, effective from December 6, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension/high blood pressure due to environmental hazards as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to hazardous environments.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection and TDIU due to the Veteran's death.