Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are denied as there is no evidence of current disability or a relationship to active service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, COPD, type II diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease.,Service connection was also granted for the cause of the Veteran's death due to acute congestive heart failure, with type II diabetes mellitus as a significant condition contributing to death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and/or diabetes caused or contributed to his death. A new medical opinion is needed.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and sleep apnea. The case will be remanded to obtain VA medical opinions on these issues.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings on all of his service-connected conditions, except for loss of automatic movements and speech changes which were granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU effective April 1, 2019. The issue of TDIU prior to September 13, 2018 is remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and needs further development regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus (DM) with diabetic nephropathy, including causation and aggravation of hypertension.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating based on regulation of activities or complications.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Korea.

The Veteran's PTSD and other service-connected conditions have not met the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his overall disability picture, which does not meet the specific eligibility requirements.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer, and a heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II were denied as the medical evidence showed these conditions were diagnosed prior to their respective claims, warranting a presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for type 1 diabetes, loss of pancreatic function secondary to diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to diabetes. The case is being returned to obtain a new VA opinion from an endocrinologist or other appropriate medical specialist.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted due to his fatal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and diabetes, presumed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and PTSD have been granted service connection. However, the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease is remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.,Service connection has been established for diabetes mellitus type II and PTSD. The Veteran's ischemic heart disease remains at a non-compensable rating, and the issue of entitlement to TDIU is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to a lack of current diagnosis and because there was no actual disability diagnosed at any time since the claim was filed or contemporary to the filing of the claim. The presumptive provisions for herbicide exposure are not available as there is no diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim contesting the award of agent fees based on past-due benefits granted in a May 2021 rating decision is granted. The Board finds that there is no fee agreement of record between the Veteran and Agent J.P.D., providing for VA to collect fees and pay Agent J.P.D. directly out of past-due benefits awarded to the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as due to herbicide exposure. The low back disability remains at a 40% rating, with no change in the rating for neuropathy or erectile dysfunction. Right ear hearing loss and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a low back disability, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus secondary to CAD, chronic fatigue and joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, and total disability based on individual unemployability.