Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with mild non-proliferative retinopathy of the left eye is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his condition does not warrant regulation of activities or complications requiring hospitalization.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as diabetes mellitus, type II, require additional development due to new VA medical records being added to his claims file.

The Board has dismissed all appeals seeking service connection for various conditions as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus requires a rating in excess of 10 percent, but no higher. The effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits have been granted as July 1, 2015. The issues of increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder with insomnia NOS and alcohol abuse, prostate cancer, irradiation proctitis associated with prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents for heart disability, neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus type II. The records from Dr. A.P., Norwood Clinic in Gardendale, Arizona, and any other care providers who may have treated the Veteran need to be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, but the issues of increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus, as well as TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including an examination to assess the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ischemic heart disease and peripheral neuropathy, are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The claim for diabetes mellitus is reopened.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus is denied as he does not have a current disability. The Board finds that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, type I or II.

The Veteran's DMII is presumed to have been caused by in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's diagnosed hypertension, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and residuals of his cerebral infarction are due to or aggravated by his DMII.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), anemia, and pseudofolliculitis barbae as they were not incurred or aggravated during his periods of active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. However, the case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, Wegner's granulomatosis, and Crohn's disease due to a lack of information regarding ionizing radiation exposure. The Navy is requested to conduct a search of their records.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, neuropathies of bilateral upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction as these conditions are not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Board found that the submitted evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate any of the claims.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, finding that the date of claim is the later of the two dates and thus the appropriate effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for Diabetes Mellitus, type II, PTSD, and an anxiety disorder due to insufficient medical evidence. Additional information is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has a diagnosis of diabetes and whether his PTSD and anxiety disorder are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to in-service exposure to contaminated water while stationed at Camp Léjeune, including as due to Agent Orange exposure. The AOJ is directed to obtain all relevant records and provide additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, were all denied by the Board.