Diabetes decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board found that there was no causal relationship between the Veteran's diagnosed eye conditions and his service or service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence indicating potential herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam. The issues include prostate condition, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine osteoarthritis, lichenoid dermatitis, bilateral cataracts, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 17, 2015.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's stroke was granted service connection and is considered proximately due to his service-connected diabetes.,His diabetes mellitus type II remains at a 20% rating, as he does not require regulation of activities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), type II diabetes mellitus, and lumbar spine condition. The Veteran's claims for diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction (ED), and hypertension are being remanded due to the lack of a rationale in the existing medical opinions.,The Board has not assigned a disability rating or effective date as these issues have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to insufficient evidence of additional disability resulting from an overdose of prescribed medication, and found that his nonservice-connected diabetes mellitus was not aggravated by this event.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and other issues are being remanded due to errors in the duty to assist. Specifically, the AOJ did not inform the Veteran that a VA Form 21-4142 was invalid and therefore unable to be processed. Additionally, new opinions are needed regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a heart disability is dismissed.,Service connection for prostate cancer is granted, with the cause potentially linked to asbestos exposure during active duty.

Major depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and hypertension have been granted service connection.,Alcohol use disorder is remanded for a VA medical opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II warrants a 40% disability rating, but no higher. The issues of service connection for erectile dysfunction and hypertension due to diabetes mellitus are remanded as VA opinions are needed.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and/or bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy or obesity.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted, and his increased rating claims for diabetic neuropathies have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to herbicide exposure, as they are unclear whether the Veteran was exposed to qualifying chemicals during his confirmed service in Guam from March 1965 to August 1966.

The Veteran's 80% rating for narcolepsy is restored, effective June 1, 2016. The claim of service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted with an effective date of September 3, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his knee and diabetes disabilities, as well as the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has remanded multiple issues, including the rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spurs, the ratings for scars on the right foot, service connection for diabetes and erectile dysfunction, PTSD disability rating, and TDIU. Additional development is needed to clarify the presence of any co-existing neurologic impairment in the feet.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disorder due to lack of evidence supporting exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. Service connection is granted for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including respiratory illness (allergic rhinitis with sinusitis), nosebleeds, heart condition, hypertension, thyromegaly, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and diabetes mellitus have been granted. The decision also remanded the claim for service connection for nosebleeds as secondary to sinusitis.