Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities are found to be at least as functionally impaired, if not worse, than a person who has adequately functioning prosthetic devices following amputation at the ankle level. As such, he is granted a 100 percent disability rating for loss of use of both feet.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and a need for further evidentiary development, including an examination of the current severity of the service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy are currently rated at 40 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's flatfeet were aggravated by service and are considered secondary to his service-connected condition.,The Veteran's right hip disability is due to his service-connected flatfeet.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability. The claim for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence that it is etiologically related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability. For the lumbar spine disability, the Board found that a 40 percent rating, but no higher, is warranted from October 2017 and thereafter.

The Veteran's headaches, diagnosed as tension headaches, are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam-era service in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his bilateral foot disability, as well as his claims for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye disability, and bilateral hand disability. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for a sleep-related disability or an increased rating higher than 50 percent for his bilateral foot disability. His claims for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye disability, and bilateral hand disability are inextricably intertwined with the claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, costochondritis, and diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to Service-Connected Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS).,Service connection was granted for right wrist and left wrist disabilities (CTS) as secondary to SPS.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal via a Statement in Support of Claim received in June 2020.

The Veteran's skin disability and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to verify whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. The Veteran contends he was exposed to Agent Orange while repairing and repainting radar systems used in Vietnam.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing chronic symptoms in service or within one year after separation from service.,The appeals for left hand numbness, right hand numbness, and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded as the RO has not yet adjudicated these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach condition, heart disability (including angina pectoris and coronary artery disease), diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, and BLE disorder have been denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the stomach condition claim, and that there is no evidence of chronic symptoms or continuous since service separation for the other conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and hypertension as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of prostate cancer and that his diagnosed conditions were more likely due to herbicide exposure during his time in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claim for service connection for hypertension is also remanded due to a need for additional development regarding its relationship to herbicide exposure and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, based on exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for body cramps, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and Parkinson's disease due to herbicide exposure. The claims are being returned for further development as requested by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.