Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. He is granted a TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied as there is no evidence of a prior informal claim or application before July 26, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Board needs additional medical evidence to determine if his service-connected disabilities alone render him in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney disease and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, both related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes due to herbicide exposure are granted. The claim for peripheral polyneuropathy is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for DMII and an increased rating for MDD due to pending development.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or caused by service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's assertions of exposure were found unsubstantiated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant had active Federal service from March 14, 1960 to September 13, 1960 for purposes of basic entitlement to VA benefits. The claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has ordered remand to obtain additional opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depression. The issues are related to secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy associated with type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction was denied. The effective date of the grant of a 10 percent disability rating is March 14, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his painful midline sternum scar due to coronary artery disease was denied. The scar is rated at 10 percent, effective July 20, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his left lower extremity surgical scar associated with coronary artery disease was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to his death have been dismissed due to the Veteran's passing.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. A new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's asthma, diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes), and diabetic neuropathy are not service connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the conditions and his military service. The case is remanded for further development regarding herbicide exposure.

The appeal of the issue characterized as 'Granting of only 0% for secondary neuropathy' is dismissed. A total disability rating due to individual unemployability is granted from April 24, 2019.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from September 7, 2018 to April 29, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable evaluation have been denied. The Board has found that the preponderance of evidence is against his claims for bilateral foot disability, left hand condition, left ankle condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, and diabetes mellitus type II due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran must be provided VA examinations consistent with the directives herein.

The Board denied service connection for vision problems and memory loss, as well as diabetes mellitus and heart disorder. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection was also denied on the merits.