Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and a contractile bladder disorder, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during service. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and DMII were reopened due to new evidence. The right ankle disability appeal was dismissed as the benefit sought has been granted in full. Service connection for dyslipidemia was denied because it is not a qualifying disability for VA purposes. Other issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected asthma and his claimed conditions, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, right knee condition, low back condition, and right shoulder condition. The VA is requested to obtain new opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes type II prior to March 6, 2023. The claims for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are remanded due to a lack of an examination in the June 2019 SOC.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and kidney disorder are being remanded due to a lack of VA examinations related to these conditions. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to asbestos and other toxic chemicals during his service aboard USS Forrestal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as the requirement for such is attributed to non-service-connected back pain. As a result, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance, finding that he requires daily assistance due to his service-connected conditions. The decision also dismissed the Veteran's appeal for special monthly pension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability has been granted. The remaining issues on appeal, including those related to bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus with atrial fibrillation and erectile dysfunction, lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, SMC based on the loss of use of a creative organ, and TDIU prior to February 24, 2021, are remanded for further action.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, Parkinson's disease, prostate cancer, and chronic kidney disease due to herbicide agent exposure are all granted.,Service connection is also granted for hypertension under the PACT Act.

The Board has granted service connection for TBI residuals, depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and kidney disease. The Veteran's conditions are linked to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus (DM). The VA needs to obtain a medical opinion from an endocrinologist to determine if the condition is related to his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased level of special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, recurrent hemorrhoids, a recurrent bilateral eye disability (glaucoma and cataracts), a recurrent disability manifested by hair loss, a dental disability (rotten teeth), hypertension, erectile dysfunction, a recurrent lower extremity disability (tendinitis), and bilateral hearing loss. These claims are being remanded for further development.

The appeals for reopening a service connection claim for a respiratory disorder, and for service connection for gout, bilateral feet; a separate bilateral foot disorder, including plantar fasciitis and flat foot; and urinary frequency are dismissed. The appeals for increased ratings for left carpal tunnel syndrome and right hand ganglion cyst are also dismissed. The appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic neuropathy of the right upper extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the left upper extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and sleep disorder (including sleep apnea, chronic insomnia, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea) are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance due to her disability, which is reasonably certain to remain throughout her lifetime.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence and because he did not provide private treatment records or attend his VA examinations. The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam, but missed his VA examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted since November 10, 2017, due to his service-connected disabilities making him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's CAD is now rated at 60 percent effective April 10, 2023. Prior to this date, the rating was 30 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with right eye diabetic cataracts retinopathy is rated at 20 percent, effective July 16, 2021. The Veteran's LLE peripheral neuropathy is also rated at 20 percent from that date. However, the Veteran's RLE peripheral neuropathy remains rated at 10 percent prior to December 17, 2021 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.