Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but dismissed the appeals for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine and diabetes mellitus. The appeal for Parkinson's disease is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided that a temporary total rating for hospitalization or observation due to service-connected disabilities is denied. The case of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, secondary to PTSD with cognitive disorder associated with residuals of TBI, is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for updated medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as diabetic nephropathy. The Veteran's symptoms were not found to rise to a level that constitutes a current disability.,Service connection was also denied for eye disorder (diabetic retinopathy), which was remanded.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected coronary artery disease and PTSD on his employability.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD ratings, service connection for diabetes, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II and service connection for bilateral toe fungus and hepatitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating or a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for type II diabetes mellitus is granted. The claims for a compensable rating prior to January 11, 2023, and a rating greater than 20 percent from that date are remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if it warrants a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, liver disorder, abdominal disorder, and right foot disorder due to a lack of sufficient opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's service-connected depression, lumbar spine disability, and right knee disability are alleged to have contributed to obesity, which in turn caused his diagnosed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that there was no in-service event or injury related to the later-diagnosed condition and that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's military service and his current diabetes.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, kidney disease, and a lung disorder. The conditions are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to be etiologically related to his conceded in-service herbicide exposure. However, the claim for service connection on an other than presumptive basis remains pending and requires further development.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to clarify the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and its relationship to his service-connected scleroderma crest syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, tinnitus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, have precluded him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease was granted with an effective date of May 17, 2007. He received initial noncompensable evaluations from May 17, 2007 to April 25, 2011 and initial 30 percent evaluations from April 26, 2011 to December 26, 2016 for chronic kidney disease.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, malignant melanoma, and valvular heart disease. The claim of service connection for prostate cancer is remanded due to a failure to provide an examination.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II have been denied as there is no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during service, and the conditions are not otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of April 18, 2011 for the service connection of diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and left lower extremity disabilities due to exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The Veteran's claims were based on the PACT Act presumption.