Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and exposure to herbicides. Additional examinations are needed to determine the etiology of his psychiatric, neurological, and skin conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetic retinopathy due to conflicting information regarding his service in Thailand. The PACT Act is applicable for these claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, is granted. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus are denied. Arteriosclerotic heart disease to include coronary artery disease and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 14, 2017.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, combined with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU and SMC housebound effective August 21, 2012.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral pes planus, thyroid disorder, and diabetes mellitus are granted. The claim for service connection of the thyroid disorder and diabetes mellitus is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, as secondary to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to his service-connected substance abuse disorder associated with his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there is no evidence supporting a causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder), symptoms attributable to alcoholism, left and right knee conditions, sleep disorder, colloid cyst, and migraines. The Veteran's statements and medical records are considered in determining the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include erectile dysfunction was denied. The evidence did not show that the diabetes required one or more daily injections of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU before January 03, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities. However, beginning December 01, 2019, the Veteran's TDIU claim was granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran currently has diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Board has granted service connection for cerebrovascular accident (CVA or stroke), left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (LUE PN), and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (LLE PN). Service connection for heart disability, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (RLE PN), and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (RUE PN) is denied.

The rating reduction of the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus disability from 60 percent to 20 percent effective February 1, 2019 was proper.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 100 percent from February 29, 2012. The RO denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to February 29, 2012, or based on a single service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and ischemic heart disease are granted as service-connected. Diabetes mellitus, type II and cataracts (secondary to diabetes mellitus) are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic nephropathy, left upper and right upper diabetic neuropathy, as well as left and right lower diabetic neuropathy. The Board also granted service connection for left and right lower diabetic neuropathy, as well as left and right restless leg syndrome, all secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was incurred during his active duty service and is therefore granted as service connected.