Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the issues of service connection for scalp condition, sleep apnea, urinary incontinence, hammer toe (right and left feet), right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neck disability, acquired psychiatric disability; rating for urinary incontinence, in excess of 10 percent prior to October 18, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter; earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for urinary incontinence; hammer toe (right and left feet); right shoulder disability; left shoulder disability; neck disability; acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's appeal has also been dismissed for issues regarding an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and earlier effective dates for those conditions.,The Veteran's migraine headache disability was granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need to obtain additional medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, Parkinson’s disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus are currently pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded for further development to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, and bipolar disorder as the evidence did not show current disabilities or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, left wrist CTS, right wrist CTS, RUE cervical radiculopathy, and LUE cervical radiculopathy. Service connection was also denied for DM as it is not shown to be related to service or a service-connected disability.

The appeals for type II diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and lung disorder were dismissed. The left breast calcifications appeal was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has dismissed all pending appeals due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the current disability ratings adequately reflected the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and determined that it is warranted due to exposure to herbicide agents. The primary cause of death was pancreatic cancer, which the Board found at least in equipoise with being caused by exposure to herbicide agents. Diabetes mellitus, a contributing cause of death, is also associated with exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including low back and right knee conditions, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disability, gastrointestinal disability (claimed as irritable bowel disease and Crohn's disease), diabetes mellitus type II, and narcolepsy. The claims were remanded for further development regarding a respiratory disability and varicose veins.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent prior to October 22, 2019 and denied for an increased rating. From October 22, 2019, the claim remains in dispute as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher 40 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for diabetes, skin rash, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, nephropathy, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral nuclear cataracts due to new evidence not having been considered.

The Veteran's appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to VA surgery and treatment is remanded because the March 30, 2010 surgical report has not been obtained.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's pancreatic cancer and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left hand, right hand, and left leg due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is being verified by the Joint Services Records Research Center.

The Veteran's tinnitus and diabetes mellitus are granted as service-connected due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of May 19, 2015 for the service connection of right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy.

The Veteran is rendered unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of service-connected disabilities from April 12, 2010 to January 15, 2019. However, for the period prior to April 12, 2010, the Veteran does not meet the combined disability rating percentage criteria for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The case is remanded for referral to VA’s Director of Compensation for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.