Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service connection for lung cancer and type II diabetes mellitus is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip injury residuals, left hip injury residuals, a right knee disability, and a left knee disability are dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. The Board remands the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to DMII.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, COPD and hypertension as these conditions were not shown to be related to service. The cause of death was attributed to other significant conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as due to herbicide exposure. The claims for glaucoma and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, myopathic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus type II due to errors in service dates and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected conditions, including PTSD and prostate cancer. The Board finds that the Veteran cannot secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his physical disabilities.

The Board dismissed all the issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for shortening of bone length, right lower extremity; status post repair right patellar tendon with traumatic arthritis; and a right knee scar. The appeals were also dismissed regarding service connection for degenerative joint disease, right hip, and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 10, 2014. The case is REMANDED for additional development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed. The Board has also identified several issues that require further examination and consideration, including service connection for hypertension.,The Veteran was granted service connection for amputation of the left little toe and left little toe amputation scar on August 8, 2018.

The Veteran's diabetes and diabetic nephropathy were not granted increased ratings, and his claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood. A disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted effective November 24, 2015.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted based on his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hypertension in the record.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (Insomnia) is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for prostate cancer is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for genitourinary disorder, to include BPH, is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for flat feet is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.

The Board denied service connection for diabetic nephropathy as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis during the Veteran's lifetime.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for strokes, diabetes mellitus type II, myocardial infarctions, hypertension, and coronary artery disease due to incomplete development of the Veteran's service records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to the absence of relevant VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, OSA, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and a bilateral foot disability due to lack of in-service diagnosis or exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection was not granted on a direct basis as there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms from service.

The Veteran's throat condition is currently diagnosed as esophageal polyps, which were not present at the time of his previous VA examinations. The Board finds a need for additional medical opinion to determine if this condition is related to service.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities rated at 100 percent (coronary artery disease) and additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent (right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, diabetes mellitus). However, the Veteran is not considered housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Multiple issues were remanded, including heart disorder, prostate disorder, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorder, headache disorder, skin disability, sinus disorder with allergies, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, gout, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the Board not providing sufficient reasons and bases for its reliance on the June 2018 VA examination regarding complications from his diabetes, specifically decreased kidney function and cardiovascular problems.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was related to his service-connected ischemic heart disease and diabetes, finding them at least in equipoise with respect to causation. As a result, service connection for the cause of death is granted.