Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection claims for DMII, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, multiple myeloma, and hypertension have been granted. The heart condition claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to chronic hepatitis C, liver disease as secondary to chronic hepatitis C, neuropathy left foot/leg as secondary to chronic hepatitis C, and neuropathy right foot/leg as secondary to chronic hepatitis C. A 10% evaluation is assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension, glaucoma, a back disability, diabetes, and OSA have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities (right and left) and right shoulder disability are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in the March 2022 VA opinion regarding the Veteran's diabetes mellitus. The examiner is asked to address risk factors for DMII and whether they are related to service exposure, specifically PCBs.

The Board denied reopening the claims of service connection for a cardiovascular disorder and type II diabetes mellitus, as well as the claim for anemia. The evidence submitted since previous decisions did not meet the criteria to reopen any of these claims.,Service connection was also denied for anemia due to lack of continuity of symptoms or causation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder; other specified trauma related disorder, diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease), and peripheral neuropathy upper extremities have been granted. The claim for hypertension has been dismissed as moot.,Service connection is established for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide agent exposure and arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) based on in-service exposure. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy upper extremities, lower extremities, and acne remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding his neck, back, right hip disabilities, diabetes mellitus, and balance issues. The claims are also remanded to determine if the service-connected left varicocele caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which is secondary to her service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2, has been remanded due to incomplete factual basis in the previous opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the Veteran's claimed in-service exposure to firefighting training, which may be considered a burn pit exposure. The case is being remanded for further consideration of service connection for prostate cancer and type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, as well as related neuropathy conditions. The examiner is to consider exposure to toxic exposures during service in Southwest Asia and any potential secondary effects from a service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's DMII is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure. The claims for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are granted as secondary to his service-connected DMII.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the need for further evidentiary development, including a VA examination. The Veteran's diabetes and hypothyroidism are being considered based on his exposure to chemicals during service, even if not herbicide agents as defined by regulation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence received and incomplete records from his service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from July 24, 2012 to July 9, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The claim is moot as of July 10, 2017 when he received a 100% disability rating for ischemic heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumptively linked to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents while serving near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility on and prior to July 7, 2020, are granted due to the severity of his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's ratings for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus have been restored to their original levels, effective August 17, 2021. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to December 4, 2020 has been dismissed as moot.