Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension, due to herbicide exposure. Additional development is required to determine if the Veteran served in Vietnam and to obtain medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that the appellant's condition was incurred during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA). The Board concluded that there is at least a 50% probability that the appellant's diabetes began in service and thus established veteran status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and chronic kidney renal disease due to potential service connection issues, including a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities aggravated his obesity and caused or aggravated his diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetic retinopathy, right eye, with bilateral fluctuating vision and blurred vision, prior to September 14, 2012, and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral diabetic retinopathy associated with type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction from September 14, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was due to severe dementia/severe debility and diabetes mellitus. However, there are discrepancies in the cause of death documentation and a need for additional medical explanation from Dr. S.H. The decision is remanded to obtain relevant private treatment records and provide further clarification.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the issue of service connection for a toe disorder.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, toenail onychomycosis, athlete's foot, rashes on crotch, chloracne, diabetes mellitus type II, right upper extremity neuropathy, left lower and right lower extremity neuropathies, and a left-hand condition. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses for these conditions or any nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for DM, polymyalgia, and sleep apnea must be denied as there is no evidence of in-service disease or injury. The claims for left hip disability and right hip disability are remanded due to a lack of medical evidence showing current disabilities during the appeal period. The claim for service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tear is also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 40 percent for diabetic ulcers of the right lower extremity with residual scarring is granted, and his claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the right foot is also granted.

The Veteran's pancreatitis is resolved and not currently manifested by recurrent attacks or severe abdominal pain.,New evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for Hepatitis C, which was previously denied. The Board finds that there is new and material evidence to support reopening this claim.,Additional development is required to determine whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is secondary to his service-connected pancreatitis, as well as any current residuals or diagnosis of Hepatitis C.,The Veteran needs a VA examination to assess whether he has erectile dysfunction that is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and if it was aggravated by his service-connected pancreatitis.,The Veteran also needs a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any eye condition, including whether it is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability (including dementia and PTSD), diabetes, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and liver disability claims are all remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death and if they caused or aggravated his diabetes. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II prior to January 14, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for a new opinion on whether the right foot fracture was caused or aggravated by service-connected conditions, specifically diabetic peripheral neuropathy and left second toe amputation. The issues of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) and 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) are also remanded due to the potential impact on these benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including asthma, multiple myeloma, type II diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypertension have all been denied as there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides or other environmental hazards during service. The Board also found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, and depression are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The issues have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for an eye condition, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus II. The Veteran's eye disabilities are being evaluated further.