Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ischemic heart disease, lumbosacral strain, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that further rationale and opinion are needed regarding obesity as an intermediate step between a service-connected disability and the current disability. Additionally, an examination is required due to potential toxic exposure under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was granted.,Service connection is also granted for diabetic neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it did not have its onset during or within one year of separation from active service and was not otherwise etiologically related to such service. The Board also found that diabetes mellitus was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability and diabetes mellitus type II, with secondary service connection to a heart disability. The claims are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, as well as his claim for an effective date prior to April 11, 2022 for the grant of service connection for a right and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The Board found that VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiologies of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder due to additional development being needed. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, but complications are also considered. For his knees and spine disorders, a VA examination is required to determine their etiology and severity.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been granted service connection. The bilateral retinopathy is secondary to the hypertension, chronic kidney disease with end stage renal disease is secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, and dermatitis and eczema are presumed due to service.,Left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or functional impairment.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's right knee disability, including service connection for various other conditions. The claims are being returned for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of various extremities, kidney condition, valvular heart disease, erectile dysfunction, cataracts, diabetes mellitus, GERD, stomach condition, asbestosis, ankle conditions, back disability, knee conditions, arthritis, right hip condition, and left hip condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, as there is insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure during his active duty from December 1965 to October 1969. The AOJ must make further efforts to obtain all relevant records and determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides.

The appeal as to diabetes mellitus type II has been withdrawn and is dismissed. The appeals for obstructive sleep apnea, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy (secondary to diabetes mellitus) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's kidney disease claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical records from his hospitalizations. Other service connection claims are being processed under the modernized review system.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for right knee osteoarthritis is remanded due to inadequate examination.,Left knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II are all remanded as the Board needs additional opinions on their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development, and they will be reviewed again by the VA Regional Office.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for colitis, hypertension, type II diabetes, and a lumbar spine disorder have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection has also been denied for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, and erectile dysfunction secondary to type II diabetes, as well as left sciatic radicular pain and partial paralysis of the left sciatic nerve secondary to a lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has found that the RO did not complete all directed development and returned the matter to the RO for further action. The Veteran's service records, including his MOS and locations of service, need to be verified, as well as VA examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that the conditions are not related to service. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.