Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The Veteran served in the Air National Guard, but the specific dates for his ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA are not verified. Updated VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records must be obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gout and hypertension due to issues with obtaining addendum opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran contends that his gout is caused by service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and/or alcohol use disorder, while his hypertension may be related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 2, 2013 on an extraschedular basis due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral eye disorders other than nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy of the right eye was dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues related to his diabetes mellitus and associated disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed. The claim for service connection for Barrett's Esophagus, diabetes mellitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right 4th toe amputation and whether it was caused by VA care or negligence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 13, 2020.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type 2 and diabetic neuropathies of the lower extremities. The claim for earlier effective date for diabetes is denied as there was no pending claim prior to May 16, 2005. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM2) due to herbicide exposure as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation, and the Veteran did not have a compensable degree of DM2 within one year of separation from active duty.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred during service and is denied.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's hypertension does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's chronic low back strain with degenerative changes does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded for further review.,The Veteran's right knee disability prior to April 16, 2019, and after June 1, 2020, remains on appeal.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, has been managed with insulin and a restricted diet but not regulation of activities. The Board denied an increased rating as the condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. Specifically, they need to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is related to herbicide exposure during service and if his diabetes mellitus requires regulation of activities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The Veteran's claim for a back disorder is reopened, but further development is needed as there are still unresolved issues regarding the nature of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II had its onset during or within a year of military service, and is otherwise etiologically related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to herbicide agent exposure is being remanded as the AOJ did not determine whether the December 2017 lay statement constituted new and material evidence with respect to his prior April 2015 rating decision. The AOJ must attempt to verify the Veteran's asserted in-service exposure to herbicide agents by referring the claim to the U.S. Army and Joint Services Record Research Center (JSRRC).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic conjunctivitis has been reopened, and the claim is granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied. The ratings for low back disability prior to May 31, 2010, and after that date are also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type 2, as these conditions are presumed related to herbicide exposure. The VA will attempt to verify the Veteran's claimed exposures and obtain medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current diagnoses and his military service.

The Veteran was found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction. The Board granted TDIU for the period from March 29, 2007, to April 28, 2009.

The Veteran's death was attributed to heart disease, COPD, and diabetes. The appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence of herbicide exposure in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has been reopened and granted. The Board also remanded the claims for bilateral lower and upper extremity neuropathy due to insufficient evidence.