Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral lower extremities peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand and that there is a link between such exposure and these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and its related conditions were granted with effective dates starting from January 30, 2007. The claim for diabetic retinopathy was also granted but the effective date is not specified as it falls within the same period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, result in a loss of use of both lower extremities that precludes locomotion without the aid of an assistive device such as a walker, cane, or wheelchair. As a result, he is eligible for financial assistance for specially adapted housing.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to potential herbicide agent exposure during service. The Veteran served aboard USS Midway and asserts he was exposed to herbicides while stationed in Da Nang.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the diagnosis and etiology of diabetes mellitus type II, including when it began.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, degenerative joint disease, right knee, and left knee due to incomplete examination opinions and need for additional development regarding herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating of 30 percent for diabetic retinopathy is granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits. The issue of increased rating for DM remains pending.

The claim for service connection for the cause of death is reopened, but the appellant did not provide sufficient evidence to establish that her husband's mental state prior to his death was related to service. The claims for accrued benefits and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are denied as they were filed after the one-year deadline following the Veteran's death. The claim for death pension benefits is remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension associated with diabetes mellitus, type II and remanded it for further development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is rated at 20 percent. The initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are both denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for bladder cancer and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and determination of eligibility as the Veteran's surviving spouse, including verification of in-service herbicide agent exposure. The issues of service connection for the cause of death and diabetes mellitus are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and multiple sclerosis have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board has determined that these conditions are presumed related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during active duty.,The VA examiner will be requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's diagnosed diabetes mellitus and multiple sclerosis were incurred in or otherwise related to his service, specifically the presumed exposure to PCE, TCE, and vinyl chloride while serving at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 27, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it raises a secondary theory of entitlement based on his PTSD and type II diabetes mellitus. Additional development is needed to address these theories.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ needs to verify the ship's location of USS Haleakala during the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination, particularly regarding his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of May 27, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with osteoarthritis (low back disorder), and coronary artery disease (CAD) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has remanded for further evaluation due to the complexity of his conditions.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a right leg injury (scar), and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran did not meet the requirements for exposure to herbicides for Air Force veterans who served on or near the perimeter of air bases in Thailand.,The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus type II during service, and there was no credible evidence linking it to service.