Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a comprehensive eye examination and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected eye disabilities, including bilateral cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and any cotton wool spots.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as an effective date prior to May 8, 2013 is not possible because the service connection for the underlying disabilities occurred after that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not cause the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as his physical impairments are due to nonservice-connected conditions.

The Board has found that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and a right leg disability due to incomplete compliance with prior remand instructions. The VA examiners are asked to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during service and their relation to current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's liver condition as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy were granted with effective dates of September 11, 2006.,An earlier effective date is not warranted as the grant was based on new evidence received after the original claim.

The Veteran's cause of death is being remanded for additional development. DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 and § 1151 are denied.

The Veteran's prostate condition, heart conditions, and diabetes mellitus were denied service connection due to lack of exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.,The Veteran's heart disability and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to a duty to assist error in not verifying herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's heart disability and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to a duty to assist error in not verifying herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes and kidney disability due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune. The diabetes claim is remanded because a more definitive medical opinion was not provided, and the kidney disability claim is remanded as it may be related to the diabetes.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection and increased ratings due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and loss of use of a creative organ (sterility) due to lack of sufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's hypertension is granted as it was caused by exposure to chemical toxins in service. Diabetes mellitus and infertility are being remanded for further clarification on their etiology.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are rated at a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was incurred in service or secondary to her service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned for further development and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction in excess of 40 percent is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and initial ratings have been withdrawn.,Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, left and right sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy, left and right femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy, and left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The effective dates of these awards are January 16, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and vertigo due to new evidence received since July 2012. The Veteran's current conditions are being reviewed again as they may be related to his active service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II have been granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his time in Thailand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and insufficient medical evidence to link post-service diabetes to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, skin cancer, hypertension, and residuals of a stroke due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran's statements regarding observable symptoms and his wife’s reports after discharge from service are considered in assessing these conditions.