Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes mellitus, asthma, and Pityrosporum folliculitis with actinic keratosis due to potential service connection based on exposure to burn pits while serving in Iraq.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as to service connection for diabetes mellitus type I, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities because these claims have been granted in full.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and now grants the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for these conditions. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of memory loss or cognitive decline, right ear hearing loss, digestive disorder, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, fatigue, or loss of saliva at any time during the pendency of his claims.

A rating of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II is granted effective January 23, 2020.,TDIU is granted effective December 2, 2012. Special monthly compensation based on housebound status is granted effective October 29, 2014.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work history from December 2, 2012 onward.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's disease due to Agent Orange exposure, requiring further development including verification of exposure and a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes was due to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy are denied as there is no evidence of in-service disease or injury, and the conditions are not related to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 20 percent for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM II) was denied. The criteria for a higher rating were not met as the Veteran did not require regulation of activities due to DM II.

The Veteran's PTSD was denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent from December 20, 2017. The Board also found that the criteria for a TDIU were not met prior to July 17, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims. Service connection was also denied for hepatic steatosis and chronic kidney disease due to lack of a causal relationship with military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, prostate cancer and DMII are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to causative agents and noting the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus type II, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as a result of herbicide exposure is remanded due to lack of evidence of contact with Agent Orange in the Dominican Republic.,Secondary service connection claims for various conditions are remanded due to the need to establish herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but denied for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, headaches, and bone/joint disorders in both lower extremities. The appeals are remanded for further development regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to conflicting medical evidence regarding his diabetes complications, specifically macular edema and osteomyelitis. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's death was related to his service, specifically his presumed herbicide exposure and side effects of medications for his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including reopening of service connection claims for various conditions and issues related to hearing loss, carotid endarterectomies, vocal polyps, diabetes mellitus, type II, and retinopathy. The Veteran's spouse is being provided with the appropriate notice regarding these matters.

For the period prior to December 3, 2019, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and retinopathy was rated at 20 percent. The appeal is denied as the disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.,For the period starting December 3, 2019, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and retinopathy was rated at 40 percent. The appeal is denied as the disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.