Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes with erectile dysfunction was granted a 40 percent rating effective March 14, 2023. The appeal for higher ratings prior to that date and from March 14, 2023, is denied.

The Board has found that the RO failed to sufficiently attempt to verify the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically from 1985 to 1988 and service in Okinawa, Japan in 1987. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted under the PACT Act, and his degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine rating is restored.,PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. His diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction requires restricted diet or insulin therapy from September 19, 2015, to July 7, 2017, and one daily injection of insulin thereafter.,The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity is granted an increased rating, but tinnitus remains at the maximum schedular evaluation.,PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. His diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction requires restricted diet or insulin therapy from September 19, 2015, to July 7, 2017, and one daily injection of insulin thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed vision impairment and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, PTSD, and bilateral knee disabilities have been granted.,Service connection has also been granted for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus and bilateral leg scarring due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again with a new opinion that addresses all theories of service connection, including whether the honorable period of service could have caused or aggravated the disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran is also remanded for additional examinations related to his claimed disabilities, including bilateral feet, ankles, knees, shoulders, skin, frequent urination, migraines, PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and Bell's palsy.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The initial disability ratings for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy prior to June 14, 2021, are denied.,Effective from June 14, 2021, the Veteran's left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are each rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, skin/skin rash disorder, diabetes mellitus II, heart disease, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged exposure to herbicides and missing service records.,The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to determine whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his active duty, particularly at the Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) in Gulfport, Mississippi.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, COPD, OSA secondary to PTSD, and other disabilities have been granted. The appeal is not about service connection for exposure-related conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during the period of June 18, 2015 to October 20, 2016. The evidence does not support an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound criteria prior to May 3, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The VA examiner did not address the issue of aggravation by the service-connected condition.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remanded for further development, including obtaining private medical records and arranging for a VA TERA examination.

The Veteran's death was caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus and metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, which were presumed to be due to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents in Guam. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's onychomycosis was granted service connection as it is related to active service.,The Veteran's rhinitis and hemorrhoids were denied increased ratings as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.,Service connection could not be granted because the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea, and he did not experience any current disabilities related to diabetes mellitus or diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and etiological opinions regarding his claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II; coronary atherosclerosis; aneurysm of the thoracic aorta; asthma; left hepatic lobe cysts; anemia; arthritis of the upper extremities; arthritis of the lower extremities; neuropathy of the lower extremities; and left lung calcium deposit. The claims are remanded due to potential exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has identified errors in the decision and has ordered remand for further development of evidence related to service connection claims.