Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy with foot drop, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma due to in-service herbicide agent exposure. The Court found that the Board did not address the Veteran’s lay contentions regarding herbicide agent exposure and formaldehyde exposure during autopsies.

The Board has granted the restoration of service connection for left and right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic complications of peripheral neuropathy, finding that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetic ulcer of the right foot, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board granted an extraschedular rating of 20 percent for Diabetes Mellitus, Type I (DM), in addition to the current schedular 40 percent rating. This is equivalent to a 60 percent rating under the VA's Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and optic atrophy are currently rated as 40 percent disabling from November 3, 2017. The Board has ordered additional VA examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) found that VA did not obtain all relevant records related to herbicide exposure and ordered a search for pay records, morning reports, and temporary duty orders from the Veteran's service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting opinions and a need for further medical evaluation regarding the Veteran's hypertension, service-connected diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of actual exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea and at Fort Riley. The Veteran did not provide any documents showing such exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including right eye disability, left eye disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, and several joint and limb disabilities. The reasons are to obtain relevant Social Security Administration (SSA) records and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's Alzheimer's disease is not related to service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The claim to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 100% rating effective from December 18, 2020.,No other conditions have an effective date prior to July 28, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus II, prostate cancer, left hip disability, and right hip disability due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure during service.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not provide sufficient information to request research assistance from the U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) or National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease was granted at 60 percent, effective April 12, 2011. From March 30, 2016, the Veteran is also entitled to SMC due to having multiple service-connected disabilities rated at 60% or more.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of records and need for additional examinations. The issues include skin disability, bilateral foot disability, sleep apnea, kidney disability other than nephropathy, eye disability (claimed as due to diabetes mellitus), colon cancer, major depressive disorder, and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; hypertension; and a respiratory disorder are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the presence of these conditions. The RO must obtain updated VA and private treatment records and schedule examinations to determine if the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's heart condition and hypertension were not incurred in service, nor are they related to his military service.,Right ear SNHL was not incurred in service or due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's low back condition, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, type II, varicose veins, peripheral vascular disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were also not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to diabetes mellitus, which was presumed to have been caused by his exposure to Agent Orange during active duty.,However, the DIC claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as moot since the cause of death has now been established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neoplasm of the kidney and diabetic nephropathy and renal dysfunction due to service in Southwest Asia, as well as their secondary relationship to fibromyalgia. The VA examinations were inadequate and a new opinion is needed.