Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between his service-connected hypertension and the development of diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an adequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board found that the disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of insulin use and restricted diet.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, myelodysplastic syndrome, bilateral upper and lower neuropathy disabilities, amputation of the toes and right leg, and kidney failure disability due to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension to determine their etiology, specifically whether they are related to in-service herbicide exposure or pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for hypertension is granted.,Service connection for OSA as secondary to DMT2 is granted, and TDIU from October 3, 2016, is also granted.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for right shoulder rotator cuff tear and gastrointestinal disability (including duodenitis or GERD) has been granted. The claim for diabetes mellitus type II remains denied.,The Board found new evidence related to the Veteran’s service connection claims, including a VA examination linking his current right shoulder condition to in-service injury. However, the denial of diabetes mellitus type II due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient medical nexus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent since July 2010 and denied for a higher rating. The Veteran’s chronic kidney disease with diabetic nephropathy and hypertension was granted a 60 percent disability rating from September 23, 2009.,Service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and sleep apnea is granted. Service connection for skin disorder and compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for thyroid cancer status post thyroidectomy, diabetes mellitus type II, left elbow disorder, sleep apnea, and intestinal condition due to new and material evidence having been submitted.

The Board has granted reconsideration of the June 2011 claim to reopen service connection for a skin disability of the groin and feet. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 7913. Increased evaluations were denied for diabetic neuropathy in both lower extremities and diabetic nephropathy.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is related to his active duty service in the Korean DMZ, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and additional evidence added to the record. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus will be reconsidered after further development, including obtaining missing personnel records, verifying herbicide exposure in Korea, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II has required at least one daily insulin injection, a restricted diet, and regulation of activities without episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalizations. The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent since December 12, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam-era service.

The Board denied readjudication of the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and congestive heart failure due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease, both presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during active service or within one year of discharge, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that it is related to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for liver damage is denied due to lack of in-service disease or injury, failure to manifest as cirrhosis of the liver within one year of discharge, and absence of probative evidence linking current liver disability to active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; pulmonary disorder (including a pulmonary diffusion defect and emphysema); peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity; peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity; thyroid disorder (including thyroid cancer and a thyroid nodule); and skin cancer are all granted due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran's lung nodules claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for chloracne, diabetes mellitus type II, porphyria, and osteoporosis due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development related to these issues.