Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, colon polyps status post-removal, hypertension, sleep apnea, and acid reflux (GERD) due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service or exposure to contaminated water.,The Board found that none of the claimed disabilities are among the eight diseases presumptively associated with contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, thus denying presumptive service connection on this basis.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it is not related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, skin condition of left arm, and heart disorder due to herbicide agent exposure while serving in the Marine Corps. The decision also requires a review of the Veteran's service records to determine if he served within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam or entered port in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for OSA is dismissed due to the withdrawal by his attorney.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of hearing loss within one year after separation from service and it is not related to service.,Service connection for IHD remains denied as the Veteran's condition does not meet the criteria for chronic congestive heart failure, workload restrictions, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction less than 30 percent.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes) is denied due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred in service and there are no complications requiring separate ratings.,The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 19, 2015, remains pending as the effective date has not been established.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim was denied, while his psychiatric disability, hearing loss, lung disability, hypertension, left leg disability, CVA residuals, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment prior to May 27, 2014.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings for various disabilities, including OSA, CAD, diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and TDIU prior to March 2, 2018, are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disorder, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus type II (DM II) are being remanded due to the lack of substantial compliance with prior Board directives. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has granted a TDIU prior to January 24, 2020 due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU from January 24, 2020 is remanded as it involves a schedular 100% rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction due to diabetes mellitus type II have been denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.,Service connection cannot be established because the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on his alleged herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding obesity, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, and low back condition. The Veteran's representative asserts that his asthma causes or aggravates these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were denied as they did not manifest within one year of service or are otherwise related to service.,Service connection for depressive disorder unspecified with anxious distress (claimed as PTSD) is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes, lower back condition, and neck condition due to a lack of VA examination and consideration of service connection on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective July 18, 2019. He also received SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) and TDIU prior to July 18, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, with hypertension and bilateral onychomycosis is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that there was no credible evidence of herbicide exposure during service and thus not meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus is granted service connection. The cervical spine disability issue is remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 60 percent from November 14, 2021 to July 14, 2022 for service-connected diabetic nephropathy with nephrolithiasis and ureterolithiasis ('renal disease') is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary disorder, to include asbestosis, remains remanded due to the need for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and chronic renal insufficiency to include as secondary to herbicide exposure. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral neuropathy of the legs, and TDIU are being remanded as there is insufficient information regarding his military service in Vietnam.,The Veteran's appeals for chronic sinusitis, cervical spine disability, bilateral arm radiculopathy, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU prior to January 15, 2020 is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other claims that require further development.,,,