Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective October 10, 2013. The Veteran seeks an increased rating.,For the period prior to June 6, 2016, the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on need for aid and attendance has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Veteran's death is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the cause of his death, including whether his esophageal cancer was related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during service.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted. The Veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus requires management by a restricted diet.,An initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran’s current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's thalamic stroke with speech impediment prior to August 6, 2018 is rated at 10 percent and remains unchanged. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current condition meets the criteria for an increased evaluation.,An initial rating of 20 percent for varicose veins of the right lower extremity is granted. The Veteran's persistent edema, incompletely relieved by elevation, meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating under VA regulations.,An initial rating of 20 percent for varicose veins of the left lower extremity is granted. Similar to the right side, the Veteran’s persistent edema, incompletely relieved by elevation, meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating under VA regulations.,Service connection for a right knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for a left knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for sciatic nerve trouble of the right lower extremity as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,An evaluation in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,An evaluation in excess of 10 percent for cerebrovascular accident (CVA) related to cardiac embolic event from March 1, 2019 is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure should be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right thumb condition and sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board finds that the medical opinions obtained were not in compliance with its previous directives.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic retinopathy, right and left lower extremity neuropathies, and hypertension have been rated. The initial rating for diabetic retinopathy has been granted from May 24, 2013 to August 25, 2015 at a 10% level, increased to 30% from August 26, 2015 to January 23, 2019, and to 100% thereafter. The initial ratings for right and left lower extremity neuropathies have been granted at 40% since April 28, 2011. Service connection for hypertension has not been established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional development, including obtaining treatment documents from Dr. SMH.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, vision loss, hypertension, kidney/renal disorder, heart disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD). However, these claims are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and other development that may be needed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetic proliferative retinopathy is granted, but his claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus and compensable rating for diabetic proliferative retinopathy prior to May 13, 2018 are both remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The diabetes mellitus type II and melanoma claims are now reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. Service connection is established for these conditions based on herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been reopened. Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II, as due to herbicide exposure. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for clarification of his employment history and an evaluation of his service-connected disabilities' impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, diabetic heart disease, unspecified depressive disorder, abdomen scar, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity have been granted service connection. The effective dates for these awards are December 13, 2017.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded for further development to determine if they are related to his military service.,The Board is requesting additional information from the Veteran regarding his in-service exposure to herbicide agents or defoliants. They are also seeking medical records from non-VA providers where he was treated for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, PTSD, and diabetes mellitus have been granted. The rating assigned has not yet been determined.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly those related to diabetes and stroke, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted SMC based on this need.

The Veteran's right upper extremity neuropathy was restored to a 40% rating, effective September 9, 2019.,The Veteran's left upper extremity neuropathy was restored to a 30% rating, effective September 9, 2019.