Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes, due to Agent Orange exposure, is being remanded as new evidence has been received and the Blue Water Act may apply.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type I was granted service connection. The remaining issues of secondary service connection for various complications are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the Veteran's service on USS Robison was within 12 nautical miles off the coast of Vietnam, which would allow for presumptive exposure to herbicide agents and potentially grant service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease.

The Board dismissed the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and schizophrenia. The hearing loss disability claim was reopened, but the issues of left hip, right hip, back, and headache disabilities were remanded.

The Veteran's service was not considered qualifying for VA non-service-connected disability pension benefits due to his discharge from active duty before the required 90 days, and he did not have a service-connected disability at the time of discharge. His claims for other conditions were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hyperthyroidism due to herbicide exposure, as it is unclear whether such exposures occurred based on the available evidence. The AOJ must verify the Veteran’s alleged exposure to herbicides during his service at Eglin and Turner Air Force Base.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of gout, a bilateral foot condition, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and residuals of right scaphoid fracture.,The Board also dismissed the appeals seeking earlier effective dates for lumbosacral strain, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the claims for rheumatoid arthritis, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or etiology. The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is presumed to have been caused by contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty and there is no evidence linking it to his thoracolumbar spine disability.,For the period prior to June 4, 2019, a 20% rating for the thoracolumbar spine disability was granted. Since then, a higher rating has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for arteriosclerotic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus due to unverified periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to August 26, 2013, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran did not have actual herbicide exposure during active duty and there was no evidence of such exposure in Japan. The claim was based on direct service connection rather than presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of renal insufficiency is denied. The claim for a higher initial rating prior to January 16, 2014 and entitlement to TDIU prior to that date are also denied.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for joint pain and a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for stress related headaches. The appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was also dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request for an increased rating.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed to be service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his deployment in Korea.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart condition (coronary artery disease), and leukemia as the conditions were not shown to be related to service or any presumptive exposure. The Veteran's death was also not found to be due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and amputation of two toes of the left foot, both claimed as secondary to diabetes. The Veteran's hypertension and kidney disorder are remanded for further examination.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for an adequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is proximately due to or caused by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's diabetes claim for further development due to a lack of an opinion regarding the relationship between his service and his current condition.