Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for ED and DM II have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for ED or a higher than 20 percent rating for DM II.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional evidence, including VA examinations.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease. The issues of an increased rating for ischemic heart disease and TDIU are remanded to allow for appropriate development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II have been granted. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral lower extremity vascular disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted under the PACT Act, effective from August 10, 2022. The claim for an increased rating of diabetes mellitus type II remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions and missing information. The claims are now pending again with new instructions for obtaining more specific medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and depression.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death. The claim is being returned for a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM II) was withdrawn. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for seizures, finding that reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran's claim has been resolved.,Service connection is denied for chloracne as there is no evidence of current disability and the Veteran did not have chloracne during service or within one year after separation from service. Service connection for osteoporosis of the left hip and right hip, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are also denied due to lack of in-service onset.

The Board has dismissed the claims for increased disability ratings for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus type II. The claim for an increased disability rating for left upper extremity neuropathy was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC benefits are granted effective July 30, 2021. DEA eligibility is also granted on the same date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim for a respiratory disability (originally claimed as sarcoidosis) was reopened, but the service connection for COPD remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure as there was no evidence of such exposure. The Board also denied service connection for right foot ulcers and left foot ulcers secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the service connection issues for additional development, including obtaining new VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the claimed back disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and diabetes disorders.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being in equipoise.,Other issues related to hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, hip and knee disabilities, foot disabilities, seizure disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, eye disability, and hepatitis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death was not due to service-connected conditions, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has required restricted diet, one or more daily injection of insulin, and regulation of activities. The Board granted a 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for onychomycosis and diabetes mellitus due to incomplete development, including a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand requests. The Veteran's service in Vietnam is also under review.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as a condition for which presumptive service connection is warranted due to the chronic nature of the disease.