Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected conditions and their impact on his ability to work. The appeal is related to the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as due to herbicide exposure, is denied because there is no current diagnosis of the condition and the evidence does not show a relationship between the condition and his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for a dental condition and remanded his claims for hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, low back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, and right shoulder condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a sleep disorder, heart condition, back disability, right hip disability, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.,Service connection was granted for the heart condition due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bruxism and DMII, but these claims are still being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II. The appeal is also granted as secondary service connection is established due to a link between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his diabetes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of a VA examination addressing the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities and his military service. Additional development is needed, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran was exposed to asbestos or mercury during active duty.

The Board has dismissed all the appeals regarding service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and evaluation of his diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and renal calculus.

The Veteran's diabetes and right lower extremity neuropathy are granted as service-connected based on presumptive service connection for herbicide agent exposure.,Right lower extremity neuropathy is also granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in service.,A neurological disorder other than right lower extremity neuropathy, including diabetic amyotrophy and neuropathy, is granted as secondary to diabetes.

The Board has remanded the claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II due to inadequate examination and failure to obtain private medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records do not provide clear evidence of these conditions during or immediately after his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the extremities due to outstanding VA and non-VA treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction, as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, due to incomplete records and need for an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's liver disability is not considered an additional disability due to VA treatment, as his enlarged or fatty liver was found to be secondary to pre-existing conditions like diabetes mellitus and obesity. The Veteran's service connection for this condition is determined to be direct.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his in-service motor vehicle accident and granted service connection. The diabetes mellitus type II claim was remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), diabetes, and both upper and lower extremity neuropathy are remanded due to the need for further development regarding exposure to herbicide agents and other chemicals.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted as due to herbicide exposure while serving in Thailand. The heart condition claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure. The claims will be further developed by contacting the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the Marine Corps' Gray Research Center.

The Board has found that additional development is required before the claims on appeal may be decided. The Veteran needs to provide VA Form 21-4142 for any private physicians and medical facilities from February 1997 to May 2001, and then from May 2002 to August 2013 related to diabetes mellitus, type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The Board will remand the claims after this development.