Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board found that the reduction in VA disability compensation benefits during the Veteran's period of incarceration was proper and denied his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's exposure at Fort McClellan is being considered as a potential cause of his current conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for retroactive VA disability compensation in excess of $1,446.62 from April 2017 to January 2018 due to proper calculation and payment of withheld amounts.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. Service connections for diabetes mellitus, stroke, and heart disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease on a direct basis due to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and assignment of TDIU based on service-connected disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension due to an incomplete medical opinion regarding exposure to commercial herbicides.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted as service connected due to exposure during active duty in Guam, with the Board finding that his current condition is more likely than not due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, diabetes mellitus (including as due to herbicide exposure), and bilateral diabetic neuropathy. The Veteran's in-service back injuries need to be addressed by a medical opinion, and his reported Agent Orange exposure needs to be verified.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, diabetic retinopathy, chloracne, and hypertension as the evidence did not support a nexus to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board denied the petitions to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and heart disability due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is presumed, but there was no current diagnosis or link between his conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanation of how the October 2021 MRRC request complied with prior remand directives regarding herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims on appeal can be decided. The Veteran and his representative are being given an opportunity to submit any outstanding private or VA treatment records relevant to their claims, including updated VA treatment records since the last decision in January 2018 and February 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus due to incomplete information regarding his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The Veteran is also requested to provide updated medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Veteran's bipolar disorder, hypertension, alveolar fracture of the jaw, deviated nasal septum with scar, and diabetes mellitus are all found to have been caused by or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

Your claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has been granted due to the PACT Act, but your appeal is dismissed as there are no further issues to be decided.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes, including the reduction of the evaluation from 40 percent to 20 percent effective July 25, 2018, has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing the appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her TRICARE records and private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus type II, heart disease including coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension due to incomplete records from the service department. The Veteran's STRs and Naval hospital records are requested.