Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case for a new etiology opinion to address whether the Veteran's diabetes is related to service-connected migraine headaches and if weight gain/obesity, caused by service-connected disabilities, contributed to his diabetes.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus are presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service at the Royal Thai Air Force Base in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board also granted service connection for the Veteran’s heart disability, progressive supra-nuclear palsy, hypertension, and sleep apnea based on exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and a new theory of service connection based on hypertension medication.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and Parkinson's disease have all been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus disability is rated at 40 percent, and service connection for urinary incontinence as secondary to the diabetes disability is granted. The Board finds that a new VA examination is required to determine if a higher rating is warranted for the diabetes disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, a cardiovascular disorder, and diabetes mellitus. Service connection was denied for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, respiratory disorder, and hepatitis C.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability but has remanded the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired mental disorder and DM2 as due to HTN, as well as the SMC based on aid and attendance and housebound issues. The AOJ is instructed to obtain medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's depressive disorder and DM2 are related to his HTN.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his current conditions and service. The Board found that diabetes was first diagnosed after separation from service, and peripheral neuropathy is not related to service or any incident therein.

The Board denied service connection for a nasal/respiratory disability including as due to herbicide agent exposure and denied an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Veteran's PTSD alone prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate. The issues of increased ratings for other service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, other than left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to type II diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support a separate grant of service connection for right lower extremity and bilateral upper extremities peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to exposure near the perimeter of Don Muang RTAFB in Thailand during his military service.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for bilateral diabetic retinopathy with cataracts, finding that the Veteran's visual acuity and remaining visual field were between 46 to 60 degrees, warranting a 20 percent disability rating under the pre-2008 criteria. The revised post-2008 criteria did not change this evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (diabetes) and ischemic heart disease have been granted.,Service connection has also been remanded for the Veteran's pulmonary conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bronchial asthma, full body rash, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents. Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral cold foot sensation as a separate and distinct disability from the Veteran's already service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence of a current diagnosed bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded cases for further factual development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while serving aboard the USS ZELIMA, as it is unclear whether he served within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam or any similar area identified in the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act.