Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's need for the regular aid and attendance of another person was granted effective April 25, 2020 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an eye disorder was granted in March 2020, but the appeal is dismissed as moot because the claim has been granted. The TDIU claim was denied as the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus due to new evidence received after a final denial. The Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is established, but there is no competent evidence linking his hearing loss or diabetes to this exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, ischemic heart disease, and stroke residuals, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for glaucoma to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to incomplete examination reports and a need to address the correlation between diabetes and glaucoma.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance was due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, but not due to a pending claim for heart condition. The Board denied the SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DM with impotence and cataracts are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The RO must review this evidence and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and diabetes mellitus, type 2 have been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at Udorn RTAFB in Thailand.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on the presumption of exposure.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including hypertension, IBS, left knee disability, slurred speech, and right and left foot disabilities. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, left hand disability, and lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left shoulder disability, type 2 diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and heart disability (claimed as coronary artery disease), have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or exposure to herbicide agents that would support presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for Type II diabetes mellitus was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The appeals for ratings in excess of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, and left lower extremity, as well as for PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions and a TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA Form 21-4142 for private medical records related to hypertension and diabetic nephropathy, obtaining VA treatment records since December 2019, and attempting to obtain a formal claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected disorders. The Veteran's representative is also requested to provide a VA Form 646 statement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, shell fragment wound residuals, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, left knee patellar tendonitis, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure and maintain gainful employment as of October 1, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU rating effective from June 16, 2016.

The appeal for service connection of multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of hypertension. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are also to be evaluated in terms of their impact on his employability.

The Veteran's left eye diabetic retinopathy and bilateral cortical cataracts are service-connected. The denial of high cholesterol is based on it being a laboratory finding, not a disability.,The hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, dental condition, eye condition, and erectile dysfunction due to herbicide exposure. The decision is pending further investigation.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as well as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The reasons provided include lack of in-service injury or disease, no chronic symptoms during service, and no evidence of continuity of symptomatology post-service.,The Board also denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease based on the absence of a showing of continuous symptoms since service separation.