Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent prior to October 30, 2019, for his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as there is no link between the Veteran's psychiatric disability and the condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act, presumptive for exposure to herbicides.,Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is granted as it is presumed due to in-service noise exposure.,Nummular dermatitis and diabetic dermopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted as they are presumed due to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period of March 31, 2016 to November 13, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure and insufficient new evidence to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right shoulder impingement syndrome and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 6, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, specifically whether it is related to service, including exposure to contaminated water and/or burn pits in Iraq.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, specifically related to exposures at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and related peripheral neuropathy and diabetic nephropathy (end-stage renal disease) and diabetic retinopathy have all been granted. The PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure is not applicable to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes, hypertension, and Parkinson's disease. The Veteran was not found to have been exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Panama and Puerto Rico.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base. The effective date is August 10, 2022, the day after the PACT Act was enacted.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, diabetic retinopathy, and bilateral cataracts has been granted a disability rating of 40 percent for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension due to potential exposure to herbicides during active duty training at Fort Chaffee in July and August 1975. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA toxicologist regarding residual dioxin exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to September 23, 2020.

The Veteran's initial claim for erectile dysfunction was denied in April 2018, but a compensable rating is not granted due to the absence of a penis deformity.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ were awarded effective August 31, 2010. The Veteran's initial claim for DM2 was denied in April 2018 with an effective date set at March 14, 2010.,The RO found clear and unmistakable error in the November 2013 rating decision that assigned a March 14, 2010 effective date for the initial 20% disability rating for DM2.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus prior to February 28, 2009 is denied. A 40 percent disability rating is granted for the same condition since February 28, 2009. The claim for a separate compensable rating for diabetes-related erectile dysfunction is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records and the need for nexus opinions regarding his psychiatric disorder, DM, renal disorder, prostate cancer, and ED. The claims are related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer and diabetes type II due to ionizing radiation exposure. The case will be returned to the Board after additional development, including requesting records from specific units in Germany.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, sarcoidosis, and a lung disability due to insufficient evidence of record regarding their etiology.

Service connection is granted for diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities, and erectile dysfunction.,Service connection is denied for a chronic lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of various extremities, as well as effective dates for service connection. The main reasons are the need for additional medical examinations and records review.