Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, nephropathy, bilateral cataracts, and hypertension associated with diabetes mellitus was denied. The current rating of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus is maintained as the criteria for a higher rating are not met. Separate compensable ratings for erectile dysfunction, nephropathy, bilateral cataracts, and hypertension were also not granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of various conditions including right knee, left knee, back, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy in bilateral extremities, hypertension, and heart condition due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest, preceded by other heart and liver issues. The Appellant contends these were related to exposure to herbicide agents in Korea during service. The Board finds the existing medical opinion inadequate and requires a new one to address the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted based on direct evidence of herbicide agent exposure. The low back disorder, headache disorder, and residuals of frostbite are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.,For DM, the Board noted there was no in-service diagnosis or incident, and the condition was diagnosed many years after separation. For hypertension, the claim was denied as secondary to DM since DM itself is not service-connected. For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran's STRs showed normal hearing at entry and separation, and he did not report any significant noise exposure during service.,For tinnitus, the Board found no evidence of in-service onset or connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder has been remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including a left knee condition, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease, liver condition, and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss are remanded. The Veteran is also requested to provide evidence of toxic exposure risk activities in service, as the PACT Act requires a medical opinion on the likelihood of a nexus between his conditions and such exposures.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's heart condition and reopening of service connection claims for various peripheral neuropathies.

The Board has denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension. The issues of service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to other specified trauma-related disorder and hypertension secondary to other specified trauma-related disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for an updated VA medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities, as well as right and left hip disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia is also being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his military service at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. The presumption of service connection based on such exposure is applied.

The Board has remanded three issues: headaches, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened since the last examinations, necessitating new evaluations.

The Board dismissed the claims of right upper extremity numbness, diabetes mellitus, type II, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss for accrued benefits purposes.,Service connection was granted for kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) due to radiation exposure during service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to full grants of other issues on appeal, including hypertension and bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy. The claim for TDIU was also dismissed as the evaluation for congestive heart failure associated with diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension rendered it moot.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the development sought as part of the September 2022 remand, and therefore, the case is being remanded for additional development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to any hazardous materials during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone, without considering her non-service-connected impairments, were sufficient for requiring regular aid and attendance. The VA will need to provide a retrospective opinion from an examiner.