Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service. The Veteran was not shown to have served in Vietnam or be exposed to herbicide agents during his service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased disability ratings have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during their pendency.

The Board has granted service connection for a right eye disorder caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The TDIU claim is also granted, as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to May 22, 2014 is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence addressing aggravation.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to the need for additional VA examinations and the need to obtain certain medical records. The Veteran's claims include various symptoms such as sleep apnea, hypertension, heart disability, joint pain, kidney issues, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hypertensive retinopathy, including impairment caused by preoperative cataracts and diabetic retinopathy of the right eye, is currently rated as non-compensable. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the claims of a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative thoracolumbar spine, a 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, a 10 percent for right shoulder anterior cruciate degenerative joint disease, and a 10 percent for a sinus condition. The appeal is also dismissed for service connection claims including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, right hip arthralgia, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as adjustment disorder and PTSD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records of his reserve service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The appellant's in-service exposure to herbicide agents is suspected but not verified. A TERA examination will be scheduled if verification of exposure occurs.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and entitlement to TDIU due to the need to verify the Veteran's claimed herbicide exposure in Panama and Puerto Rico. The results of this verification should be used by the RO in readjudicating these issues.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II due to lack of verification of in-service herbicide exposure and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board denied the claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU prior to August 14, 2018.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development and review of additional evidence, including VA and private treatment records. The issues on appeal include effective date determinations and service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes prior to September 3, 2021, based on the presumption of herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes mellitus type 2 due to inadequate medical opinions. Additional development is required.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions are inadequate to address whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee and left ankle disabilities with obesity as an intermediate step. Therefore, another remand is required to obtain a supplemental opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for the conditions listed, with presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's vision loss and its relationship to his diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate condition, erectile dysfunction, bilateral kidney condition, bilateral eye condition, and heart condition. The claims were also remanded for hypertension.