Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Prostate Disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM) due to insufficient information in the examination reports. The examiner is required to provide an opinion regarding whether DM was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities and obesity.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the July 2019 remand directive and thus the case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II and for TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss and service-connected diabetes. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as his claim for diabetes mellitus type II due to a lack of new and relevant evidence. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of DM.

The appeal to readjudicate the claims for entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hip disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetes mellitus is granted.

Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted. Service connection for a heart condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further development. The issues of service connection remain unresolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, peripheral artery disease of the bilateral lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, adjust prosthetic appliances, feed himself through coordination issues, attend to the wants of nature, or protect himself from hazards. The Board granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance prior to July 30, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and opinions to address his sleep apnea, cataracts, and other eye conditions. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea due to diabetes mellitus and a compensable rating for bilateral cataracts are being reviewed.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death, finding that no service-connected disability was a principal or contributory cause of death.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's liver disability claim is remanded. His tinnitus, diabetic nephropathy, diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and left ankle disability claims are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and osteoarthritis (including of the bilateral hands, right knee, right hip, left shoulder, and neck), all claimed as secondary to service-connected cognitive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bronchitis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), and diabetes-related neuropathy, were denied. The Board found no current disability as claimed in any of these cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IHD, right ankle injury residuals, DMII, CTS, and a noncompensable wrist scar, have precluded him from securing or following substantial gainful employment since January 1, 2011. A TDIU is granted effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and DMII due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his active military service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy, which manifested as visual impairment and eye pain with glare, warranted a higher than 60 percent rating from June 18, 2007, based on the severity of his disability picture.