Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam, which is required for presumptive service connection under the Agent Orange Act. The VA will need to verify this and provide a medical opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's cause of death and his herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied because new and material evidence had not been received. His claims for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction were also denied as they are not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to September 20, 2013 for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to September 20, 2013 for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to September 20, 2013 for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to September 20, 2013 for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to September 20, 2013 for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and renal failure with diabetic nephropathy to the RO for further development due to a lack of adequate discussion in the August 2017 decision.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to potential links between sleep apnea and diabetes, but no VA examiner has evaluated the Veteran's diabetes or addressed these theories yet.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to its inextricability with his pending claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability and diabetes mellitus. A new VA examination is required to determine if OSA was caused or aggravated by these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is also granted, with the condition being secondary to obesity caused by his right foot disability.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The appellant's type 2 diabetes mellitus is now service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, specifically bronchitis, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.,There is no evidence of chronic respiratory disability or diabetes mellitus during service. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II was reopened but denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and right upper extremity neuropathy were all denied as the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis related to active service.,The Veteran's sleep apnea was denied because there is no evidence of its onset during or shortly after service.,Service connection for hypertension was denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis and no increase in disability during service.,Service connection for pressure in eyes was denied as the condition did not exist at the time of entrance into service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a vision disability is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the most recent Statements of the Case.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), bilateral median neuropathy, bilateral ulnar neuropathy, cervical spine disability, memory loss, carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and heart disability are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the most recent Statements of the Case.

The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus type I was granted at a 20% level prior to April 1, 2016. From April 1, 2016 through September 28, 2016, the Veteran received an increased rating of 60%. The Board determined that this increase in rating is appropriate based on the evidence showing episodes of hypoglycemia requiring hospitalization and complications such as renal and ophthalmic issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, psychiatric disability, diabetic neuropathy, diabetes, stroke residuals, tinnitus, and bilateral foot neuropathy, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience. The Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and evaluation of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment since January 23, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability was a contributory cause of his death, and the Board has granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus is caused or aggravated by his prescribed prednisone use for his associated lung condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inaccurate factual predicate in a previous examination, requiring further development and consideration of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim.

The Veteran's GERD is associated with right knee tri-compartmental degenerative changes and patellar spur, and he seeks a higher rating. The Board granted a 30 percent rating for GERD. Service connection for an endocrine condition (including diabetes mellitus) is remanded due to conflicting opinions on its cause.