Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II (DM) due to insufficient evidence and a need for further development. The Veteran is advised that he must provide evidence or argument regarding direct or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, evaluated as 70 percent disabling effective January 26, 2016, is granted. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his combined disability evaluation of 90 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy due to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to verify his alleged exposure to herbicide agents while stationed in Okinawa, as this information is crucial to determining service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional private treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction was denied. The claim for TDIU on schedular basis and referral for extraschedular consideration was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for DMII, a heart condition, and hypertension have been dismissed. The issues of service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to DMII are remanded.

The Veteran's chronic renal disease and diabetic nephropathy have been granted a higher 80 percent rating.,Prior to June 18, 2018, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected chronic renal disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, prostate disability (BPH), and thyroid disability (hypothyroidism) due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Additional development is required including obtaining service treatment records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bronchitis, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus, combine to render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination for a medical opinion on the nature and etiology of any eye disability.

The Board has granted initial ratings of 40 percent for right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, 30 percent for left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, and 20 percent each for right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy (sciatic nerve) effective December 9, 2021. Separate compensable ratings are denied for the femoral nerves.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is related to any principal or contributory causes of the Veteran's death. The PACT Act considerations are also pending.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for moderately severe incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran was granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act of 2022.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied in January 2014, and the effective date of the grant of service connection was assigned as February 25, 2020.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for gout, diabetes mellitus, and non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma before the Board could make a decision.

The appeal for additional attorney fees based on the past-due benefits awarded in a December 2020 rating decision is dismissed as the appellant no longer wishes to pursue the appeal and has already received the payment.

The Veteran's diabetes is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, as the Veteran served in Thailand during the Vietnam era. Service connection is also granted on a secondary basis for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the right and left lower extremities.