Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted as it is at least as likely as not that the condition began in service and has persisted since.,The Veteran's kidney cancer claim is denied because there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service, nor any indication that the condition manifested within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded due to the possibility of delayed onset tinnitus and insufficient rationale for the November 2016 VA examiner’s opinion.,The Veteran's left knee disability claim is remanded as there are no medical opinions regarding a nexus between in-service complaints and current disabilities.,The Veteran's right knee disability claim is remanded due to lack of medical evidence addressing the relationship between service and current knee conditions.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is remanded because there is insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and ischemic heart disease claims are both remanded as exposure to herbicide agents in service must be verified before a determination can be made on these claims.,The Veteran's respiratory disability claim is remanded due to the possibility of secondary service connection for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus with microalbuminuria is rated at 40 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The RO previously increased the rating to 40 percent effective January 4, 2011.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for diabetic retinopathy needs to be remanded due to incomplete examination documentation.

The Veteran's current Type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to be due to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam, and thus he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, coronary artery disease, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, gastroparesis, and nerve impairments in the left lower extremity, cause him to be unable to seek or maintain gainful employment.

The appeals seeking increased ratings for depression, right ankle degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, and reopening claims for diabetes mellitus, gout, and left ankle condition have been dismissed.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back condition, bilateral flat feet, and right and left lower leg/foot conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and lung cancer have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for cause of death as it was fully granted in a previous rating decision. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted based on exposure to herbicide agents during offshore service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent prior to November 13, 2019 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to service-connected PTSD is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.,Service connection for high cholesterol secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was not rated higher than 40 percent prior to November 13, 2019 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.,Service connection for left lower extremity femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.,Service connection for right lower extremity femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.,Service connection for left lower extremity sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.,Service connection for right lower extremity neuralgia parenthetical is remanded due to lack of an opinion on etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and Parkinson's disease due to exposure to Agent Orange while on temporary duty (TDY) orders in Korea in 1970, finding that the Veteran was exposed near the DMZ.

The Veteran's tinnitus rating is restored to 10 percent, effective May 29, 2019. The Board denied the TDIU claim as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

Your claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II has already been granted and there is no further controversy.

The Veteran's current diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to be caused by exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Air Force. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's low back disabilities, diagnosed as a lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc disease, are granted based on aggravation of a pre-existing disability.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted due to in-service exposure to toxic chemicals.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is related to his military service. The case is being remanded for a VA addendum opinion from an endocrinologist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her left ankle and knee disabilities, as well as service connection for DM-II and bilateral hip osteoarthritis, were denied. The effective date of the increased ratings is set to January 2014.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type 2, with erectile dysfunction and bilateral cataracts, as well as the TDIU claim due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities due to inadequate examination and failure to address severity.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the R-1 or R-2 level is remanded due to outstanding VA and non-VA treatment records. The AOJ should obtain these records and conduct further development as needed.