Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to a lack of proper documentation regarding herbicide exposure during service. The Board will attempt to verify the U.S.S. Ranger's position within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam or in the waters outlined by law.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, finding no direct link to his active service and rejecting secondary service connection based on hyperthyroidism. The Board also found no evidence of herbicide exposure in Panama.

The Veteran's physical and mental disabilities, including service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, diabetes mellitus, and PTSD, require him to be in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding his requirement for aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to in-service herbicide exposure under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 (DM2) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), both of which are secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran contends that his OSA and DM2 began due to weight gain caused by his PTSD symptoms during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for stroke, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. The case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hormone deficiency.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and his service in Vietnam, which is necessary for determining if he was exposed to these conditions that could have contributed to his death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability and remanded all other issues due to new evidence received since the last denial. The claims are being remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired respiratory condition (asbestosis), coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus, finding that these conditions are related to his active-duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, and glaucoma as due to service-connected diabetes. The decision is based on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has granted the Appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his PTSD with alcohol use disorder caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and myelodysplastic syndrome were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other causative factors.

The Board has denied service connection for pre-diabetes and remanded the issues of service connection for a heart condition and sinus bradycardia to obtain updated medical records and determine if there is a current diagnosis and etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is service-connected due to exposure to herbicides at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The evidence is in equipoise regarding this exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, heart disability, liver disability, and diabetes mellitus type II due to lack of nexus opinions regarding his active service. The Veteran is also requested to provide an assessment of his level of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to new and relevant evidence. The claim for ischemic heart disease is remanded as there was a pre-decisional error in obtaining an examination without a nexus opinion on whether a heart disorder is related to non-herbicide chemical exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for anxiety and mood swings, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, heart disorder, erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinusitis and rhinitis, right eye cataracts, left eye cataracts, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Board found no in-service psychological injury or event leading to the current disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective January 18, 2013, based on his service-connected disabilities. The effective date is the earliest date that the claim for a TDIU arose, which was less than one year prior to receipt of the February 2013 application.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and bone spurs, bilateral feet/ankles have been granted. The decision on the hypertension claim is remanded.