Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the terms of its previous remand instructions. Further remand is necessary to obtain all VA treatment records from 1999 to the present and to verify the Veteran's alleged service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, OSA, and diabetes mellitus due to incomplete VA treatment records and lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its complications, peripheral neuropathy, vision issues, bladder problems, gastrointestinal symptoms, and hypertension, were denied as they are not related to his service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypercholesterolemia is denied as it is a laboratory finding and not a disease or disability.,The effective dates for the awards of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and major depressive disorder with PTSD are both set at May 27, 2018, when the Veteran filed an intent to file a claim followed by a formal application in October 2018.,The Veteran's hypertension is not rated higher than 10 percent as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism is currently rated at 10 percent, but no higher, due to lack of myxedema and other complications.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II remains rated at 20 percent as it does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 7913.,Major depressive disorder with PTSD is granted an initial rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current chronic kidney disease is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. As a result, the claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the claimed conditions and exposure history. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, erectile dysfunction, PVD, and OSA are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as the evidence does not show that his PTSD, DMII, or tinnitus result in significant impairment preventing employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on issues related to service connection and initial ratings for his diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the issue of a higher rating remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for DM, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to in-service treatment records indicating a prior diagnosis.

The Veteran's diabetes is being remanded for a VA opinion to determine if it began during service or due to exposure to hazardous waste at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Thailand. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and bilateral upper extremities is denied as there are no current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of diabetes mellitus type II with nephropathy was denied. The claims for right upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, left upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, early senile cataracts in both eyes, blepharitis, hypertensive retinopathy, and macular epiretinal membrane in the right eye were all denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for benign lipomas has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for lymphoma, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and stroke are being remanded for further development.,Service connection is sought for benign lipomas, lymphoma (multiple myeloma), prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and stroke. These claims have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and analysis.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type I, is denied as the earliest possible effective date under law is September 18, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient rationale in the June 2018 VA medical opinion and new medical literature cited by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DM, right shoulder disability, and other conditions was denied. The application to reopen the DM claim was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The rating for the right shoulder disability remains at 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and nephrolithiasis (kidney condition) due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of actual exposure to such agents during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type I (DM), finding that the Veteran's in-service symptoms were manifestations of DM. The claim is now considered substantiated.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy and diabetes mellitus Type II were denied. The Veteran was previously rated at 30 percent for both conditions, but the Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for tinnitus and migraines, sleep apnea as secondary to sinusitis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss. The effective dates remain pending.