Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus disability is rated at 40 percent, and service connection for urinary incontinence as secondary to the diabetes disability is granted. The Board finds that a new VA examination is required to determine if a higher rating is warranted for the diabetes disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, a cardiovascular disorder, and diabetes mellitus. Service connection was denied for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, respiratory disorder, and hepatitis C.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability but has remanded the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired mental disorder and DM2 as due to HTN, as well as the SMC based on aid and attendance and housebound issues. The AOJ is instructed to obtain medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's depressive disorder and DM2 are related to his HTN.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his current conditions and service. The Board found that diabetes was first diagnosed after separation from service, and peripheral neuropathy is not related to service or any incident therein.

The Board denied service connection for a nasal/respiratory disability including as due to herbicide agent exposure and denied an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Veteran's PTSD alone prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate. The issues of increased ratings for other service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, other than left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to type II diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support a separate grant of service connection for right lower extremity and bilateral upper extremities peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to exposure near the perimeter of Don Muang RTAFB in Thailand during his military service.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for bilateral diabetic retinopathy with cataracts, finding that the Veteran's visual acuity and remaining visual field were between 46 to 60 degrees, warranting a 20 percent disability rating under the pre-2008 criteria. The revised post-2008 criteria did not change this evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (diabetes) and ischemic heart disease have been granted.,Service connection has also been remanded for the Veteran's pulmonary conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bronchial asthma, full body rash, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents. Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral cold foot sensation as a separate and distinct disability from the Veteran's already service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence of a current diagnosed bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded cases for further factual development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while serving aboard the USS ZELIMA, as it is unclear whether he served within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam or any similar area identified in the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The preponderance of evidence shows that diabetes mellitus was not chronic in service, did not manifest within a presumptive period post-service, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, heart condition, and diabetes mellitus as the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from December 8, 2008 to April 10, 2019 due to his service-connected PTSD. However, TDIU since April 11, 2019 is denied as the other service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cause of death, DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, and accrued benefits due to a lack of a Statement of the Case on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes, hypertension, liver condition (hemochromatosis and fatty liver disease), and heart condition (coronary artery disease and mild aortic sclerosis) due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection. The VA is required to obtain addendum opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has already granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, so there are no remaining issues to decide.