Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus. Service connection is denied for hernia disability.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes but remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea. The decision on diabetes is not clear-cut, as it was denied based on lack of in-service diagnosis or disease.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted service connection. Service connection for diabetes is denied. A 20 percent rating is granted for left ankle tendonitis and residuals of a gunshot wound.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type 2, as due to exposure to herbicides while serving aboard the USS Enterprise within 12 nautical miles from the shores of Vietnam.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for high cholesterol and fatty liver are granted, but denied for diabetes mellitus type 2. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, LLE and RLE peripheral diabetic neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The decision is based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied as a matter of law.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, have impacted his ability to secure and follow a substantial gainful occupation at any time during the appeal period. The Board finds it necessary to remand this matter for a medical advisory opinion addressing the Veteran's functional limitations with respect to his service-connected disabilities throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeals regarding increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and diabetes mellitus type II have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew all remaining issues in an Appeals Satisfaction Notice.

The Board has found that the VA medical opinions and addendum opinions obtained in accordance with prior remand directives are inadequate, and thus the case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension are granted. The Veteran is also granted service connection for these conditions based on exposure to JP-4 fuel in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents in Okinawa and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA is instructed to attempt verification of these exposures and provide a medical opinion on the etiology of the disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory disorder have also been reopened and remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral peripheral neuropathy, lower extremities sciatic nerve are granted prior to August 10, 2022. The diabetes mellitus is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Thailand, while the peripheral neuropathy is related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diabetes. The Veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes, and a new opinion is needed to address whether his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and withdrawn the appeals for service connection for a lung disability, sleep apnea, heart disability, diabetes, hepatitis C, and hypertension.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a neck disability was denied. The issues of higher ratings for diabetes mellitus, type I; unspecified anxiety disorder; and lumbosacral spine intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease were remanded. The issue of TDIU was also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate due to his service-connected psychiatric disability and multiple other disabilities rated at least 60 percent combined.