Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate disability, and renal disease have been granted. The issues of service connection for prostate disability and renal disease are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus as the evidence did not show these conditions were related to service or manifested within one year of separation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were each rated at 20 percent from November 6, 2019, and prior to that date, they were both rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not compensably service-connected.

The Veteran's cause of death, multiple organ failure due to metastatic pancreatic cancer with contributory diabetes mellitus, is found to be service-connected as the contributing cause was diabetes mellitus, which is presumed due to herbicide agent exposure during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The hyperkeratotic lesion of the right foot is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted. However, his claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. The claim for COPD is denied due to lack of a causal link between current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for COPD has been granted. The effective date of this grant is July 21, 2017.,Diabetes mellitus type II was granted service connection with an effective date of July 21, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for heart condition and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient medical opinions on their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need to consider entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 29, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support a link to military service or service-connected conditions. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as his disabilities prior to February 24, 2005 did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for type II diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative disorders (ALS and PSP), and acquired psychological disorder (PTSD and depression) due to inadequate rationale in previous VA medical opinions. The claims are now pending again with the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disability, cervical spine DJD, cervical radiculopathy, and diabetes mellitus type II are being returned to the AOJ for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was denied, and the appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for further examination and development of records, particularly regarding the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents, as there is insufficient competent medical evidence to make a decision on these claims. The Veteran's contentions of exposure to herbicide agents have not been conceded by VA.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and a left leg condition with pain and swelling, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's claims were based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange), but the evidence did not support such presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus resulted in diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting both lower extremities. The Board granted separate ratings for the right and left lower extremities, with a 10 percent rating prior to October 5, 2019, and a 20 percent rating from that date onward.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and insufficient continuity of symptoms to establish a link between active duty service and current diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The skin disability of the scalp claim was withdrawn, while bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and bilateral cataracts, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were all granted. Increased ratings of 20 percent for both lower extremity peripheral neuropathies have been awarded.