Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, finding that the positive and negative evidence is in approximate balance that these conditions manifested within one year of separation from his second period of active duty service.,The Board has also granted service connection for LLE peripheral neuropathy and RLE peripheral neuropathy, finding that the positive and negative evidence is in approximate balance that these conditions were caused by diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and DM are granted as service-connected, with the right shoulder condition attributed to an inservice injury and DM presumed due to herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Veteran withdrew all remaining issues from his appeal, including those related to TDIU and DEA effective dates. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal.

The Board denied higher initial disability ratings in excess of 40 percent for left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy from September 25, 2007.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, but has remanded the cases for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence regarding herbicide exposure and the need for an addendum opinion. The Veteran's lay statements are considered, along with available records indicating his presence in the Korean DMZ.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including malaria and its residuals, chloracne, cataracts, knee disabilities, jaw glands, polyps, cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, diverticulitis, diabetes mellitus type II, fibromyalgia, lumbar spine disability, and left lower extremity neuropathy. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the complete service records have not been obtained and a remand is necessary to obtain them. Additionally, a VA examination with an opinion is needed to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine, right foot, thoracic spine, and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient unit records, which may affect the determination of exposure to Agent Orange and thus service connection for diabetes mellitus, cataract disability, and cystic disease of the kidneys.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional examinations and development are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during service and thus could not establish presumptive service connection. The claim was also denied as there was no credible evidence of actual exposure.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the deaths of the Veteran and Appellant, as they do not survive their deaths.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, an enlarged heart, and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted due to his service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes, which materially contributed to his death. However, DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran did not meet the requirements for a total disability rating at any point prior to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's macular edema and whether it has caused a decrease in visual acuity. The Veteran seeks service connection for macular edema as either directly related to his active service or as caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's lung cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, are granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure in Thailand due to the PACT Act. The claims are based on presumed exposure rather than direct service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes is granted due to herbicide exposure. The claims for service connection of left ankle, peripheral neuropathy (upper and lower extremities), back disability, right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are all granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further development. The AOJ must verify the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service, including ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for cardiomyopathy with biventricular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator with congestive heart failure due to unresolved doubt regarding exposure within 12 nautical miles off the shore of Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.