Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding whether it is secondary to his service-connected substance abuse disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and SMC based on aid and attendance due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the severity of his diabetes and inability to perform daily activities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and back disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of herbicide agent exposure and noting that diabetes did not manifest within a year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and seizure disorder due to potential exposure to hazardous chemicals during service. The issues are being remanded for further development including obtaining personnel records, researching exposure history, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding an earlier effective date for service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran claims he had a pending claim for this condition as early as 1998, but no later than 2000.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for multiple sclerosis, diabetes, migraine headaches, and tinea cruris due to in-service exposure to toxic chemicals as a firefighter. The Veteran's lay statements and medical articles regarding firefighting hazards are considered.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy and diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, left hip strain, fractured pelvis, low back disability, heel spurs (right and left), diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular accident (stroke) as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to inconsistencies in medical records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure. The right flank scar issue has been remanded for further examination and rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a foot disability was also granted. However, due to the need for further examination, the issue remains pending.

The Veteran's death was caused by a drive-by shooting, not related to his service-connected thrombophlebitis of the right lower extremity or any other service-connected condition. The Board found no evidence linking his mental state prior to death to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (radiculopathy) were denied. The evidence did not support the assignment of higher ratings.

The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it causes no more than mild incomplete paralysis of the anterior crural (femoral) nerve.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for brain aneurysm, CAD, diabetes, hearing loss, HTN, and prostate cancer due to new evidence submitted by the appellant. The cause of death claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the Veteran's service aboard the USS Coral Sea included presence within the territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam, which would allow for presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The hearing loss case is also being remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 1, neuropathy, and bilateral eye disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for dysthymia with history of mood incongruent psychotic features was denied as there is no causal relationship between his service-connected condition and the claimed disabilities. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete directives in previous decisions.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, PVD, ulcers, and hypertension as they are not related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and readjudication due to issues with the previous examinations and new evidence presented by the Veteran.