Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting information about the appellant's marriage status and a missing separation examination. The eligibility of the appellant as the surviving spouse needs to be determined, and the service treatment records need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to hazardous chemicals and its relation to his diabetes. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current diabetes is related to his service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted service connection due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's testicular cancer remains under review for possible service connection based on herbicide and/or contaminant exposures.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from performing the physical and mental acts required for employment, leading to a TDIU rating prior to July 14, 2021.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is granted as service connected. The claim for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) is remanded.

The Veteran is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective August 14, 2017. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of February 7, 2008, for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes, do not meet the schedular or extraschedular criteria for a TDIU prior to March 23, 2021. The VA Director of Compensation Service concluded that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's compensable rating for residuals of lattice degeneration and diabetic retinopathy prior to February 25, 2020 is denied. Ratings in excess of 40 percent from February 25, 2020 to January 7, 2022, and in excess of 30 percent from January 7, 2022 are also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, type II and erectile dysfunction, have been rated. The Board finds that the current evaluations do not accurately reflect the severity of his conditions and remands for further examinations to determine appropriate ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide agent exposure is granted. The heart disability issue remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to herbicides in Panama and the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus has been granted. His claims for respiratory disability and acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, have been denied. The case is remanded for a VA examination regarding the relationship between his type II diabetes mellitus and his service-connected thoracolumbar strain and/or bilateral foot disabilities.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted.,Service connection for hypertension on a basis other than as pursuant to the PACT Act is granted. Service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act is remanded due to potential prior effective date issues.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is granted.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is granted.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is granted.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is granted.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the adjudication of his claims regarding a higher rating for diabetes and a separate disability rating for bilateral retinopathy.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, as it has been over five years since the last examination.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from October 1, 2013, to March 1, 2017, due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from working in a physical capacity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, headaches, low back pain, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. Service connection for bilateral upper extremity numbness and tingling is denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of splenectomy, diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes), and neuropathy of the right lower extremity have been denied.,Service connection was not granted for residuals of splenectomy due to lack of evidence of a current disability. Service connection was also denied for diabetes as it was not incurred in service or related to a service-connected condition. The Veteran's neuropathy claim was denied because there is no link between the right ankle injury and the current symptoms.

The Board found that the appellant's appeal was untimely and denied it, as her substantive appeal was not received within one year of the October 2014 rating decision or more than 60 days after the March 17, 2017 SOC.