Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disability, diabetes mellitus, type 2, squamous cell carcinoma of the right finger, colon cancer, and hepatitis C are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD and diabetes ratings are being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records. The AOJ needs to obtain additional medical records, including those from 2017 to 2019 and 2021 onwards, and request the release of any private medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and thyroid disorder due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's service connection claim is pending as presumptive based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for recurrent lumbosacral strain is granted. The claims for right hip disability, left hip disability, esophageal disability (GERD), substance abuse disability, and Type II diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for a disability rating higher than 20 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right hands due to conflicting medical evidence concerning the specific nerve group or groups affected.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is found to be due to service. The appeal for higher ratings related to diabetes mellitus type II and its complications are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, and hypertension are denied as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure during service. The conditions were not shown to be related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM II) as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during service and no in-service disease or injury related to DM II. The Veteran did not meet the threshold requirement for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to the service-connected hypertension, resolving any reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for diabetes due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during active duty.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connection due to the PACT Act, which provides a presumption of exposure and subsequent disability.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted based on presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his active duty in Guam.,The Veteran's sinusitis is granted as service connection due to the PACT Act, which provides a presumption of exposure and subsequent disability.,Service connection for a skin disorder (claimed as arthritis of the left knee) is remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees and hips, but has remanded these issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address whether his current heart condition and prostatitis are related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities from December 21, 2010, to July 13, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes was denied as there is no evidence of the condition during or after service.,Service connection for a skin disorder (dermatitis) was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer residuals, ischemic heart disease, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to prostate cancer residuals have all been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding direct service connection for sleep apnea and type II diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims are not related to any presumptive exposure basis.