Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, type II, asthma, sleep apnea and heart disability is remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The low back disability claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including blurred vision secondary to diabetes and ischemic heart disease, have left him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period of appeal. Service connection for blurred vision is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for diabetes mellitus II was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service, and the Veteran's current diagnosis cannot be linked to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his claims for service connection and increased ratings, including those related to low back disorder, neck disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, residual scar on forehead, and a temporary total rating based on convalescence for a back surgery.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic peripheral vascular disease, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular threshold percentage requirements for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The claim is remanded to be submitted to VA’s Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is granted a 60% disability rating effective August 7, 2019. The other conditions are not rated higher.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes, attributing it to the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune. The Board found no evidence of a direct link between his diabetes and his military service or any presumptive conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent, including for neuropathy of both feet, diabetes mellitus, and a left eye disability. The AOJ is required to conduct additional development to determine if the Veteran served within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam during his service onboard U.S.S. PICKAWAY.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not precluded from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for diabetes, and service connection for heart condition were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to an increased rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for depressive disorder with alcohol disorder is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100% rating.,The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and an eye disorder due to inadequate examination opinions regarding etiology and causation.,The Veteran's eye disorder claim remains pending, with the Board requesting additional examination opinions on the nature and etiology of his eye condition.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including OSA, HTN, right leg arterial insufficiency, ED, renal insufficiency, diabetic retinopathy, and bilateral normal tension glaucoma, mild dry eyes, cataract of the right eye, and pseudophakia of the left eye, as secondary to service-connected diabetes. The issues concerning lumbar strain with sacroiliac pain and labyrinthitis with vestibular dysfunction are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand at U-Tapao Air Base, and therefore, service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II is granted on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including CAD, and diabetes mellitus are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. High cholesterol is not a compensable condition. Service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of heat stroke and type 2 diabetes mellitus are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities prior to July 13, 2015 was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For the period from July 13, 2015 onwards, the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, including as secondary to his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain and major depressive disorder (MDD), due to inadequate rationale in the addendum opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, effective from the date of his death. The issue of entitlement to SMC on account of being housebound is considered moot due to the grant of the greater benefit.