Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2), right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's claims for left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, abdominal aortic disability, and diabetes mellitus type II are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to Agent Orange during service.,The Board is unable to make a determination on these issues without first obtaining further information from the Veteran's service records and medical history.

Your claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 has been granted, effective August 5, 2021. However, the Board is dismissing your appeal because you have already received this benefit.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of DM due to new evidence, but the issues of left and right foot pes planus remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand instructions, requiring further development of medical opinion evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea disability.

The Board has found no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other toxic chemicals, and thus service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus is denied. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and/or depressive disorder) is remanded due to insufficient verification of reported stressors.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for migraine headaches, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his representative.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on whether the appellant's diabetes mellitus is caused or aggravated by his service-connected prostate cancer and/or due to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gum disorder was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for this condition. The claims for diabetes mellitus, eye disorder, and lumbar spine disorder are denied.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and no other direct link between service and the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss have been rated at the maximum available under VA regulations, so no increased ratings are granted.,Service connection for diabetes is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the condition and service or toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).,Service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, hypertension, and alcohol abuse secondary to diabetes is also remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's claims are not granted because the medical evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance during the period at issue, leading to a denial of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the case is remanded for further action, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's DM 2, hypertension, LLE atherosclerosis, and right eye condition are all granted as service connected due to presumed herbicide agent exposure in Thailand under the PACT Act. The Board also found that these conditions are secondary to his now service-connected DM 2.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is related to his military service and granted. The issues of heart disability, diabetes mellitus, neck disability, and hypertension are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist and insufficient development of evidence regarding herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's service connection claim for Type II Diabetes Mellitus is being remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened, but the Board has determined that further development is necessary before these claims can be adjudicated.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right eye disability other than diabetic retinopathy due to incomplete etiological opinions and additional development is needed, including considering toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) memorandum.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The left foot disability rating is granted with a temporary total rating from March 17, 2021 to May 12, 2021.,Service connection for asthma was denied as there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current condition to his military service.,The claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending and will be remanded. The examiner must provide a nexus opinion regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service stressor or personal assault.,The left foot disability rating remains pending as it was also remanded, requiring additional treatment records from private providers.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of PTSD and diabetes mellitus, which were dismissed as a result.