Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the reopening of a previously denied claim and service connection for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on the grounds that it is presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including seeking evidence about the Veteran's part-time work as an auctioneer and determining whether it qualifies as marginal employment. The VA examinations are also needed to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied as there is insufficient evidence to conclude that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during active service and his current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board found compelling circumstances warranted the Veteran's prolonged unauthorized absence, thus finding that his character of discharge from service for the period from October 1965 to March 1973 does not constitute a statutory or regulatory bar to VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was granted from February 20, 2019 to September 15, 2019. The TDIU claim prior to September 16, 2019 was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the propriety of severing service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 1 and for determining an appropriate effective date.

The Veteran's diabetes-related nerve damage in his lower extremities and left upper extremity has been rated at 20 percent, while his right upper extremity is rated at 30 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and left upper extremity have all received increased disability ratings to reflect their severity.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 19, 2020 has been granted.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of January 24, 1992 for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Diabetes Mellitus (Type II) and left eye blindness due to potential direct service connection based on exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's medical conditions are not entitled to presumptive service connection, but may be related to his service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions regarding its etiology. The case will be returned for further development and an additional VA medical opinion.

The Veteran is eligible for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment due to the effective loss of use of one or both feet caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for left knee, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been granted. The claim for diabetes mellitus has been denied.,The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction claims are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II should be remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran needs further development to determine if he served within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam, which could affect his eligibility for presumptive service connection under Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for a new opinion regarding the Veteran's right ankle disability, and denied service connection for residuals of a right foot injury and diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II (DM) as due to exposure to herbicide agents is denied because he did not have service in Vietnam and there is no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during his active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the previous VA examination did not consider the collective impact of all his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and obtaining medical opinions regarding his diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and thyroid cancer due to a lack of updated medical records and further examination. The issues are inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service onset or a link to service, including exposure to herbicides.