Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicide agents and/or other toxins during his service at Fort McClellan.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes. The decision also considered whether herbicide exposure caused the hypertension but found no sufficient evidence.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is granted service connection due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam. The skin condition claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate disorder, diabetes mellitus, and hernia. Service connection was remanded for esophageal reflux.,Service connection for esophageal reflux is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to outstanding records and need for further development.

The Veteran's DM2 with diabetic retinopathy is rated at 20 percent, and the ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities are all 40 percent.,The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right sciatic nerve and left sciatic nerve each warrant a 40 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder and TDIU are remanded due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, TDIU prior to February 6, 2020, and special adapted housing/special home adaptation grant are being remanded due to the need for additional development including medical examinations.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the June 2021 remand directives and has ordered another remand to obtain a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected CAD and depression disorder cause or aggravate his hypertension.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for GERD, hearing loss, and a left hip condition were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The claims for hypertension, tinnitus, spinal condition, left lower extremity condition (radiculopathy), prostate cancer, and type 2 diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral lower peripheral neuropathy, and cataracts as these conditions are not shown to be related to service or due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, hypertension, DM, and a kidney condition due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's reported exposure to Agent Orange is being investigated further.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. His bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right shoulder osteoarthritis with strain, and back disability are all found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded both DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for the cause of death due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives regarding treatment protocols, standard of care, and specific treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and GERD on the basis of direct service connection. The low back disability is found to have had its onset during active service, while GERD was aggravated by diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied, and the Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is rated at 30 percent, but not higher. The Board did not find any additional symptoms warranting a higher rating.,Service connection for cervical spine disability, left ankle disability, and lumbar spine disability was granted effective May 11, 2016. The Veteran requested earlier dates, which were denied as there was no indication of intent to claim these disabilities prior to that date.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy were also granted service connection effective May 11, 2016. Again, the Veteran requested earlier dates which were denied as there was no indication of intent to claim these disabilities prior to that date.,Service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy and right upper extremity radiculopathy is remanded due to lack of evidence supporting secondary service connection.

The appeal for service connection for low back disability and sciatica of the left lower extremity is dismissed. The appeals for hyperlipidemia, idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, muscle atrophy, CIDP, hypogonadism, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and skin cancer as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for unspecified anxiety disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension have been granted. Effective dates are not specified for some of the conditions or issues. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective June 1, 2017.