Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, heart condition, lung disability, and sinus disability as the evidence did not support a link to active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a grant of financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, as they do not result in loss or use of hands or feet.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension are granted as presumptively due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.,Right lower extremity and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II. The heart condition is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his diabetes contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and other chemicals during his time at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's upper extremity disability is secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any in-service exposure.,The Board also noted that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus related injury, event, or disease in service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and no post-service continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's service records showed he served within the combat zone of Vietnam but not on its landmass or inland waterways.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction is granted a 40 percent evaluation from February 15, 2018. The left lower extremity neuropathy is granted a 10 percent evaluation prior to September 26, 2019 and denied in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The right lower extremity neuropathy is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus (DM) was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, and a brain disorder that manifests as a stroke due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while stationed on the U.S.S. Constellation.

The Veteran's reduction of a 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus (DM) was improper, and the restoration of the 40 percent rating is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran warrants a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac disability, kidney disability, bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities, and bilateral neurological disability of the upper extremities due to a duty to assist error regarding his reported exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal as to the timeliness of their notice of disagreement (NOD) regarding the March 26, 2018 rating decision denying service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The NOD was timely filed within 60 days of the April 3, 2019 correspondence.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, ischemic heart disease, hemorrhoids, asbestosis, and ANCA vasculitis (as secondary to service-connected asbestosis) on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides during active service. Service connection is also granted for hemorrhoids based on direct service incurrence.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a new VA examination due to a duty-to-assist error, as the Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of his lower extremities may have worsened since his last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to comply with VA's duty to assist in obtaining all relevant records, including those from the Veteran's Reserve service and Social Security Administration.