Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 40 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to lack of episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalizations.,Both lower extremity neuropathies are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Veteran's right and left femoral nerves have mild incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been denied. The RO granted initial ratings in certain cases, but denied others.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to consider both the service-connected coronary artery disease and potential diabetes mellitus in determining whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is related to his military service. The claim will be reviewed by a medical examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, PTSD prior to February 12, 2013, and depression have been granted. However, the Board must now reconsider these decisions due to newly received service department records.,Service connection for diabetes is being remanded because new evidence shows that the Veteran served in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and prostate cancer, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 1, 2018. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU from that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and heart disease were denied due to lack of evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides. The claim for a higher disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support exposure to herbicides during active service and thus denying presumptive service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and thus no basis to grant any of the claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of claims.

The Veteran's PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and skin condition are all rated based on their severity. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for any of these conditions.,Diabetes is also rated based on its severity, with no entitlement to a higher rating.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 60 percent for the service-connected hypertension with diabetic nephropathy from March 9, 2015.

The Board previously granted an earlier effective date of September 1, 2016 for the service-connected diabetic neuropathy in the right lower extremity and remanded it to the AOJ. The AOJ assigned a 10 percent disability rating from October 27, 2016 but did not rate it from September 1, 2016. The appeal is being remanded again due to non-compliance with previous directives.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, and hepatitis C to include liver disease as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type I is rated at 40 percent, acne secondary to diabetes mellitus type I does not warrant a compensable rating, and necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum prior to February 1, 2021, warrants a noncompensable rating. High blood pressure due to diabetes mellitus type I has been granted service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2, finding that the conditions did not manifest during or within one year after service. The Veteran's father's exposure to Agent Orange is not considered in determining service connection.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as the evidence did not support a finding that it began during active duty or was related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes) is granted on a facts-found basis due to herbicide agent exposure during service.,The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a facts-found basis as it was caused by herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran was diagnosed with this condition during his appeal period and that it is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension is granted. The claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his condition.