Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claims for Parkinson's disease and diabetes mellitus, type 2, both presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure at Udorn RTAFB in Thailand. Service connection is now established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the feet, diabetes mellitus, type II, and a left eye disorder due to in-service herbicide exposure. The AOJ is instructed to conduct further development to determine if the Veteran had active service within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus type 2, and neuropathy of the left arm. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicides while aboard the USS Raleigh, and thus the cases are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran was granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension as a result of herbicide agent exposure in Thailand.,Pancreatic cancer is not recognized as a presumptive disease due to herbicide agent exposure. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for pancreatic cancer.

The Board has remanded the cases of tinnitus and diabetes mellitus for additional development. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the evidence showing his inability to work due to his mental health symptoms and physical limitations.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral leg disability secondary to diabetes mellitus type II (DM) as the evidence does not support that the Veteran has peripheral diabetic neuropathy or peripheral vascular disease, and his RLS was not caused by his DM.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have diabetes or peripheral neuropathy due to his service, nor could he establish a relationship between these conditions and his service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not support a link to active duty service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes type I, but denied the claim as there is no evidence to suggest that the Veteran's diabetes was incurred in or related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 9, 2019. As such, the Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia, back disability, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy, and PTSD, render him unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic retinopathy was reopened, and both conditions were granted. The initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine prior to August 1, 2018, was granted, while a higher rating is denied from that date forward. Separate ratings of 10 percent each were granted for LLE and RLE radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence provided by the Appellant's representative, which suggests a possible association between obstructive sleep apnea and type II diabetes and coronary artery disease. The VA needs to obtain further medical opinions on whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened and is granted. The claim for service connection for a thigh disability remains denied, as new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. Service connection for allergic rhinitis (claimed as an ear, nose, and throat disability) is denied.

The Board denied service connection for cardiovascular, pulmonary, and diabetes conditions claimed as the result of herbicide agent exposure due to lack of evidence of such exposure during service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not related to service and he did not serve within the Republic of Vietnam. His claim for this condition was denied.,Guillain Barre Syndrome was not incurred or aggravated during active service. The Veteran's claim for this condition was denied.,Bilateral arthritis of the arms was not incurred or aggravated during active service. The Veteran's claim for this condition was denied.,The Veteran's scar on the right middle finger does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable VA regulations. His claim for an increased rating was denied.,VA first received information about the Veteran's intent to file a claim for the scar on April 21, 2017. The effective date of his service connection for this condition is therefore not earlier than April 21, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a heart disability due to lack of an opinion on etiology. The Veteran contends he was exposed to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted increased ratings, with the right lower extremity receiving a 40% rating and the left lower extremity also receiving a 40% rating. The acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70%. Effective dates for these ratings are not being granted.