Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private treatment records from Dr. A.M., as well as an addendum opinion to address whether gross hematuria is a manifestation of any current disability or service-connected condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after her active duty, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure at Fort McClellan. The Board found that the presumptive service connection for herbicide agent exposure does not apply to this case.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury in service that caused these conditions.

The Veteran's kidney condition, including diabetic nephropathy, is granted as service connected. The Board found that the evidence was approximately balanced in favor of finding a link between the current condition and military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, and various neuropathy disorders and hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any in-service endocrine, cardiovascular, or vision injury, disease, or event, and that symptoms of diabetes, hypertension, and a vision disorder were not continuous after service separation or manifested to a compensable degree within one year of service separation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, diabetes mellitus type II remains at 10 percent, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are both rated at 10 percent. Service connection for hypertension was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and an eye disability, to include dry eye syndrome. The Veteran's claim for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied as his current nerve disability does not appear to be proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, eye disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity as there was no current VA examination due to the Veteran's failure to report for necessary examinations.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (claimed as impotence), and peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities due to a lack of evidence showing chronic symptoms during service or continuity of symptomatology after separation from active duty. The Veteran's claims were also not supported by medical opinions linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and left leg above the knee amputation are being remanded due to incomplete development. The Board requests additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and TDIU due to unclear medical management requirements and potential impact on earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetic psoriasis has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the appellant's claimed conditions and exposure. The issues of diabetes mellitus, back disability, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and eye disability are all related and require further examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to be associated with exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Guam. The Board granted service connection for this condition as part of the accrued benefits.

The Veteran's death benefits are being reviewed, including the disbursement of compensation owed at his time of death and a higher level of DIC benefits. The VA is required to conduct an audit of all funds due and paid to the Veteran and his fiduciary from January 2014 onwards. The appellant's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are also being considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to herbicide agent exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it is not related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service. The VA will need to obtain deck logs and Blue Water Navy Ship Locator Dashboards for the ships the Veteran served on, as well as verify if the Veteran was stationed in the territorial waters of Vietnam.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus as they are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.