Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed all claims due to the death of the appellant, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these appeals at this time.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, PVD of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims were not granted as secondary to a service-connected condition or due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or related to active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to issues with obtaining informed consent records and further medical opinions regarding aggravation of autoimmune pancreatitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II as due to herbicide exposure is granted based on his credible statements of having operated in or near the DMZ during the relevant time period.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and related peripheral neuropathy due to potential herbicide exposure in Okinawa, Japan. The Veteran's service records indicate possible aircraft exposures but no definitive evidence of Agent Orange exposure. Further development is needed to verify these allegations.

The Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder and type 2 diabetes, and the Board has granted this claim.,The Veteran's headaches are also secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder and hypertension. The Board has granted this claim as well.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 10 percent, and the issues of increased ratings for diffuse sensorimotor neuropathy in both upper extremities prior to September 24, 2019 are being remanded.,For the right and left upper extremity diffuse sensorimotor neuropathy prior to September 24, 2019, the Veteran is rated at 20 percent. The issues of increased ratings for diffuse sensorimotor neuropathy in both lower extremities prior to June 22, 2017 are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his low back disability, bilateral hip disabilities, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma. The claims will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam is presumed and his current diagnosis of Type II diabetes is also established.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity due to withdrawal by the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and Gulf War syndrome were denied, and his claim for an effective date prior to September 29, 2010 for PTSD and schizotypal personality disorder was dismissed. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the threshold for reopening the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, xerostomia (dry mouth), and missing teeth and dental caries are remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of lung cancer, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), bone cancer, right hip, and cancer, lymph nodes as they are not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional development regarding herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of death and whether diabetes and lung cancer contributed to it. The appellant seeks service connection for metastatic malignant melanoma, but this disease is not presumed associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied a higher rating for diabetes mellitus and remanded the case to obtain updated VA eye examination results.

The Board denied a rating greater than 40 percent for diabetes mellitus type II with right diabetic foot ulcer, resolved with amputation without removal of the metatarsal head of the right second toe, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's diabetes is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service on the U.S.S. Ranger in the territorial sea of Vietnam, and he is granted service connection for this condition.