Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for gastrointestinal disabilities and diabetes mellitus. The rating for obstructive sleep apnea remains denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral upper/lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted under the PACT Act.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II and its associated peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities have been granted, with effective dates prior to August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and separate ratings were denied. The claim for service connection was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 30, 2015 has been dismissed as moot because he is already receiving Special Monthly Compensation based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's skin condition, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and diabetic nephropathy are all denied.,The Veteran is not granted any increased ratings for his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities due to incomplete information and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, clarifying opinions regarding diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy, and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for DM II is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Korea. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents and grants service connection on a presumptive basis under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e). Service connection for left knee condition is remanded due to inadequate VA examination, while right knee condition is granted as secondary to left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, Type II, and prostate cancer disabilities have all been denied.,There is no evidence of current disability or in-service incurrence of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for type II diabetes mellitus and PTSD due to new evidence being submitted. The issues will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, kidney disease other than diabetic nephropathy, and a vision disability other than diabetic retinopathy due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were related to his active service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to verify his service in the Ohio Air National Guard and determine if any periods of deployment were federal service. The claims for service connection will be reconsidered after this verification.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus may be related to his service-connected hypertension, but needs further medical opinion to determine if it is secondary.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's high cholesterol is not a disability for which service connection can be granted. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disability, kidney disease, and bilateral eye disability due to inadequate VA opinions regarding their etiology. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM II). The Veteran's representative needs to provide full copies of internet articles cited in his June 2018 Notice of Disagreement and October 2020 Brief. Additional medical opinions are needed addressing the relationship between the Veteran's military service, service-connected migraines, obesity, and DM II.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy and diabetes mellitus due to his withdrawal of these claims in a November 2019 letter.