Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, lung disability (originally claimed as black spots on the lungs), cardiovascular disability (coronary artery disease) to include as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, and diabetes mellitus, type 2. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during service or a link between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, PTSD with depressive disorder evaluation, and TDIU due to outstanding records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes was not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of discharge and is not otherwise related to his military service.,A 20% evaluation for lumbar strain from March 28, 2012 until December 7, 2016 was granted. The Veteran has now been assigned a 20% rating throughout the pendency of this disability being service connected.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his lumbar strain after December 7, 2016 was denied.,A 10% initial evaluation for hypertension was granted. The Veteran takes medication for hypertension and has not had diastolic pressure predominantly at or above 110 or systolic pressure predominantly at or above 200.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that the Veteran's exposure to chemicals during his active duty service resulted in his current condition. The claim is based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's cancer of the pancreas, gall bladder, small intestine, spleen and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further evaluation due to alleged exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for type II diabetes mellitus is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the service-connected diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated the need for amputation of all right foot toes. The Veteran needs to provide records from his treatment and any private providers, and a medical opinion is needed to determine if diabetes contributed to the underlying disease that required amputation.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities combine to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, resulting in a TDIU for the relevant periods.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted. The reopened claim, however, was denied as his obstructive sleep apnea did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise related to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including neck disability, GERD, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The claims were remanded for further action on some issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of permanent and total disability affecting locomotion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for chronic kidney infection, diabetes mellitus, type II, and seizure disorder as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II need further development due to incomplete medical records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 1 as there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within one year after separation. The Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions claimed as resulting from exposure to herbicides, including diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, bilateral hand disability (dupuytren’s contracture), blindness of the left eye, tinea pedis, hiatal hernia with gastric nodule and erosive duodenopathy, bilateral leg pain, bilateral arm pain, and bilateral foot pain. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand. His bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also granted as secondary to his now service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to the inextricably intertwined issues of service connection and whether the Appellant has status as a veteran for VA purposes. The AOJ is instructed to request specific details from the Appellant regarding his claimed disabilities and their potential relationship to his military service, including which periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA he believes are relevant.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease as a result of herbicide agent exposure, and also granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The appeal was remanded for other issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his reported exposure to chemicals during active duty, including herbicides. The appeals are pending and will be reconsidered.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for hypertension due to service-connected diabetes mellitus or herbicide exposure, as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hypertension.