Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since October 23, 2018. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including a cardiac disorder and diabetes mellitus type II, due to exposure to herbicide agents. The issues are related as they all involve secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a restored rating of 10% for his left shoulder scar is granted. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, and the issue remains pending. Service connection for neck disorder (cervical pseudoarthrosis and cervical spine arthritis) as secondary to left shoulder disability is granted. Service connection for cervical radiculopathy on the left side as secondary to the neck condition is also granted. The claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 1, 2014. The Board denied the claim for TDIU as there was no evidence of unemployment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure and insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between the condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and diabetes mellitus have been reopened. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims, but further examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes), finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to January 15, 2016. As of that date, his combined rating was at least 70 percent and he received a TDIU due to the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's right forearm scar is granted a 10% disability rating effective December 4, 2017.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted. The service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide-agent exposure is also granted.,A compensable disability rating for the right forearm scar prior to December 4, 2017, is denied.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for additional development due to the addition of VA treatment records and the need for updated examinations.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, including as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II due to inadequate examination report.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not preclude all substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board has remanded the claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as secondary to service-connected hepatitis C due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran is requested to provide additional private medical records from various providers.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 (type 2 diabetes). Service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to gain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 8, 2012. TDIU was granted effective that date.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, neuropathy, and tinnitus have been dismissed.,The application to reopen the prior final disallowance of service connection for tinnitus has also been dismissed.