Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's SMC claim is denied as he does not meet the criteria for aid and attendance or housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities, with the need for regular aid and assistance primarily attributed to non-service-connected cognitive impairments.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer and diabetes mellitus type II due to ionizing radiation exposure. The remand is required because VA did not obtain accurate records of the Veteran's unit assignment, which could affect his eligibility for benefits.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related conditions are denied as there is no evidence of in-service disease or injury.,Service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy, hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, diabetic retinopathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II are also denied due to lack of service-connected primary disability.,The Veteran's claimed conditions were not shown as chronic in service or within a year following separation from service. The Board finds no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and the VA examiner opined that there is no link between the Veteran’s current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II disability was denied for ratings higher than the current assigned ratings. The case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that it more nearly approximated this level of disability throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of IHD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II were denied as they were not received before the applicable liberalizing laws took effect.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected diabetes mellitus was denied because it was filed after the May 8, 2001 law that added diabetes to the list of presumptively related conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure at Fort McClellan.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected disabilities, specifically Meniere’s syndrome and the cardiovascular conditions. The Board found that these conditions aggravated his heart issues and contributed to his cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of teeth due to Hodgkin’s disease is denied. The right shoulder degenerative joint disease with impingement syndrome is granted a 40% evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for CAD, DM, and HTN secondary to cervical/lumbar spine disabilities due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease have been granted. Service connection for high blood pressure, which is secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, has also been granted. The claim for hearing loss remains pending as the VA examination scheduled was not conducted.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that the Veteran's other claimed conditions are secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea. The VA is directed to obtain updated treatment records, including addendum medical opinions regarding the etiology of diabetes, gout, kidney disorder, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and eye disorder.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy was granted an increased rating to 80 percent effective from November 10, 2016. Prior to this date, the condition had been rated at 60 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), finding that it did not require regulation of activity in addition to daily insulin and restricted diet.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his asthma and sinus disability are all granted. The Veteran is also awarded TDIU beginning December 1, 2019, and SMC effective December 1, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes is granted as secondary to exposure to herbicides, based on his credible statement that he traveled near the perimeter of Ubon Royal Thailand Air Base during his time stationed there.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents as his appeal is no longer before the Board because he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Ischemic Heart Disease and TDIU prior to October 20, 2011 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected bilateral macular degeneration, as well as whether his diagnosed bilateral cataracts are a complication of his service-connected diabetes. The rating for his diabetic retinopathy with cataracts and macular degeneration from December 11, 2018 is also remanded to ensure the current severity of his condition is assessed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including malignant melanoma, lymphoma, tinnitus, obesity, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss disability, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right feet, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea have all been denied. The denial is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any other relevant factor.