Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board has dismissed the claim for nonservice-connected pension from July 8, 2019 and after as moot due to the Veteran's service-connected disability rating. The claim is remanded for additional development regarding pension prior to July 8, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension and hypertensive heart disease is remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding early manifestations.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and abdominal cancer due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's exposure history needs to be verified, including potential exposure to commercial herbicides with formulations of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T that are distinct from tactical herbicide agents.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II. The low back condition claim is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's asthma was initially rated at 10 percent prior to September 16, 2022 and increased to 30 percent from that date.,The Veteran's bilateral mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy without macular edema remains at a noncompensable rating.,The Veteran's bilateral chronic dry eye syndrome is now rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the Board has remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding potential chemical or radiation exposure during his period of active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore the TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The issue of service connection for cause of death is remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently evaluated at 20 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as he did not require insulin or regulation of activities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which is secondary to his service-connected coronary heart disease and/or type 2 diabetes, has been remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions.

The Veteran's heart disability and diabetes mellitus are granted service connection based on herbicide agent exposure in the Republic of Vietnam, with the benefit of doubt favoring the Veteran.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, finding that the Veteran's condition did not require regulation of activities as part of its medical management.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations, treatment records, and consideration of functional loss.

The Board has remanded the case for a new opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus aggravates his sleep apnea, and to address the pathophysiologic relationship between diabetes affecting central respiratory control and OSA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's emergency transportation and treatment at a private facility were necessary due to his stroke, which was related to diabetes. The decision is granted as payment or reimbursement for unauthorized services provided.

The Veteran's tremors disability is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (claimed as impaired fasting glucose) was granted. Service connection for impaired fasting glucose, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable prior to July 19, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no legal entitlement to such a date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a ureter disorder and diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes) due to incomplete development of the record.