Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board has denied a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type II. The case is now pending with the AOJ for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to herbicide exposure, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. Additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's in-service exposure and obtain any relevant medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding it secondary to service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The right foot and right hip disabilities are remanded due to lack of a VA examination addressing their relationship to service.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is already established.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, chronic kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and edema of the bilateral lower extremities. The appeals are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus was denied as the evidence did not show he met eligibility criteria on the effective date of May 8, 2001. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for diabetes mellitus was also denied due to lack of medical documentation supporting additional disability beyond what is already covered by his current rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension and diabetes have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,New evidence has been received to reopen service connection claims for spinal stenosis, bulging disc/degenerative joint disease of the spine, skin disorder, vision loss of the left eye, and right knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's BPH is at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. As a result, the claim for service connection for BPH is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims were also denied as secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a sleep condition, and a heart condition are being remanded. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) is also being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and TDIU are being remanded.,,,,

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disorder, skin rash, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, gout, and bilateral eye condition. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy.,The Board is seeking clarification on the Veteran's claimed exposure to Agent Orange during service and will also request any relevant VA medical records.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his death was not caused by or related to any condition incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to March 23, 2022, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts required one or more daily injections of insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, and restricted diet but not regulation of activities.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD)/coronary artery disease (CAD) with atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities. Service connection was denied for a heart disability other than IHD/CAD with atrial fibrillation, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and lung condition.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, finding that she lacked standing to file a freestanding claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) after her husband's death. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The case is remanded to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is rated at a 40 percent disability rating, which represents moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve group.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to in-service fuel exposure.

The request to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was dismissed.,Claims for service connection for rectal bleeding, stomach disorder, bladder disorder, hypertension, and eye disorder were reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records from McDonnell Douglas Electronics Corporation and attempting to verify the Veteran's participation in covert missions in Southeast Asia. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and diabetes mellitus, Type II, are still pending.