Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the cases of heart disease and diabetes mellitus for further development. For heart disease, a medical opinion is needed on whether it is at least as likely as not related to in-service chemical exposures. For diabetes mellitus, if herbicide agent exposure is verified, a new and material evidence claim will be considered; otherwise, a medical opinion will address the etiology of diabetes mellitus.

The Board granted increased ratings for right and left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, as well as an increase in the rating for diabetic nephropathy. The grant of SMC based on housebound criteria was also approved. Attorney fees were awarded for these decisions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure during service. However, his ischemic heart disease and valvular heart disease are not considered due to service connection.

The appeals of several conditions were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran contends that his type 2 diabetes mellitus began during service, but the VA examiner found no evidence of a diagnosis in the STRs and noted that it is not possible to determine if the current condition is related to the in-service elevated blood sugar reading.

The Veteran's heart disorder and diabetes mellitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or for many years thereafter. The Board found that the Veteran did not have herbicide exposure while stationed in Thailand.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted as presumptively service-connected due to herbicide exposure.,Osteomyelitis of the right foot and ankle is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,Service connection for cancer and removal of the bladder is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is being remanded due to conflicting medical findings and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of August 7, 2015. The diabetes mellitus and onychomycosis of the toes are rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease, Diabetes Mellitus Type II, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and hypertension due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board found no exposure to herbicides in Korea and thus could not apply the presumptive provisions.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, a heart disorder, a kidney disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury, and the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents. The claims were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, has been reopened and is remanded.,Service connection for a prostate condition is denied as there is no credible evidence linking the current condition to his military service.,Service connection for bilateral foot condition/arches, hypertension, COPD, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are all remanded due to insufficient examination or opinion regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently being evaluated as a new claim since it was reopened.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and is not otherwise related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence to reopen the claims of service connection for pilonidal cyst, COPD, collapsed lung status post bronchoscopy, pneumonia, pericarditis (also claimed as heart infection), hypertension, benign prostate hypertrophy, myelodysplastic syndrome, myelogenous leukemia, status post-transplant with immune suppression, graft versus host disease, and diabetes mellitus has not been received. As a result, the claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of type II diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not manifested during service or in the first postservice year, and is not shown to be etiologically related to his service. The Board has remanded for further development regarding Parkinson’s disease, loss of use of both feet, loss of use of left hand, peripheral neuropathy, TDIU rating, and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death. The claim for accrued benefits is denied as no claim was pending at the time of the Veteran’s death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The AOJ will consider this new evidence and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).