Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for low back disability and type II diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and its related secondary conditions due to insufficient reasoning in the previous VA opinion. The case is also remanded for service connection of kidney failure, hypothyroidism, bilateral macular edema, hypertension, high cholesterol, arthritis, diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity, chronic anemia, and a dental disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is secondary to his service-connected hypertension, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for erectile dysfunction, which is currently considered a direct claim. The examiner's opinions need to be revised considering the Veteran's obesity as an intermediate step between his service-connected disabilities and ED.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration of declassified documents and U.S. Armed Service Center for Unit Records Research response regarding herbicide exposure in Korea, and a need to verify such exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), glaucoma, and breast cancer have all been denied by the Board.,There is no direct evidence linking any of these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, and sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy were denied. The claim for the right knee disability was remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is secondary to his service-connected substance abuse disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA examiner needs to provide a more detailed opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus was granted. Diabetes mellitus, type II is now presumed related to herbicide exposure in Thailand.,Prostate cancer on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand is also granted.,Erectile dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability (depression) is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus as there was no in-service diagnosis or relationship to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss are granted. Claims for sleep apnea, diabetic cardiomyopathy, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, avascular necrosis, gastrointestinal disability, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic nephropathy are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death. The examiner is asked to address the Appellant's contention that her service-connected disabilities necessitated the Veteran's right lower extremity femoral bypass surgery.

The Board denied service connection for anterolisthesis and spondylosis of the lumbare spine, bilateral refractive error, and an initial disability rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II. The appeal is remanded for further development.

Service connection for asbestosis is granted.,Service connection for cause of death due to asbestosis is granted.,Service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to asbestos exposure is remanded.,Service connection for diabetes due to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for kidney failure due to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for heart condition is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if any of the Veteran's conditions, including cirrhosis of the liver, are related to his military service. The examiner must consider the April 1969 service treatment records and the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board dismissed all appeals for service connection and disability ratings related to the veteran's conditions, including heart disabilities, psychiatric disorders, diabetic nephropathy, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathies, and retinopathy. The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension is now reopened. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2; left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy; right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy; PTSD; and TDIU are all remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, requires only a restricted diet and oral hypoglycemic agents. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of regulation of activities due to his diabetes. Therefore, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it is related to his service-connected conditions or exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) is denied as the evidence does not show that he requires regulation of activities beyond what is already contemplated in the current 20% rating.