Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), and prostate cancer have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent due to lack of severe incomplete paralysis with marked muscular atrophy.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as presumptively due to herbicide agent exposure during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headache disability, diabetes, and hypertension were denied. The claim for GERD was granted with a rating of 60 percent but no higher.

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 opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, as they are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. The VA is required to provide a medical examination and opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and the conceded toxic exposure risk activities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his death, as well as the potential impact of in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma effective March 15, 2021. The appeal regarding the proposed earlier effective date of August 10, 2022, was dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, hypothyroidism, and hypertension, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The AOJ is instructed to investigate whether members of the 1st Mobile Communications Group were sent on temporary duty assignments to Vietnam during the relevant time period.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to specific dates have been denied. The Veteran was granted service connection and compensation, but the effective dates were not earlier than the dates of receipt or entitlement.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for service connection due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to herbicide agent exposure is granted.,Service connection for hypertension (claimed as hypertension with high cholesterol) is granted pursuant to the PACT Act.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for a disability manifested by tremors, to include Parkinson's disease, is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and renal failure due to a lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents during his service aboard the USS Catskill.

The Board has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus due to a duty-to-assist error in determining when the Veteran served near the Korean DMZ. The AOJ is instructed to clarify the dates of service, determine the proximity of Camp Baker, Camp Coiner, and Paju, Korea to the Korean DMZ, and assess whether the Veteran's duties were 'in or near' the DMZ.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and its secondary effects on the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to a lack of in-service event, injury, or incurrence relating to his current diagnoses.

Service connection is granted for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's bladder disorder, status-post bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, shortness of breath, sleep apnea, GERD, erectile dysfunction, and renal deficiency are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a scar secondary to a left hip knife wound, diabetes mellitus, back pain, right and left leg disabilities, falls (claimed as poor balance), residuals of traumatic brain injury prior to October 28, 2021, and TDIU prior to October 28, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection due to inadequate reasons or bases in previous decisions. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to assess his peripheral neuropathy and psychiatric conditions, and to provide information regarding stressors related to PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a disease or injury related to service and that there was no evidence of continuous symptoms since separation from service.